A beloved NHL reporter who covered the Minnesota Wild died in a house fire Saturday with her three young children.
The NHL confirmed the death of Jessi Pierce and her children Sunday.
“The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children,” the league said in a statement on X.
The White Bear Lake Fire Department said an adult, three children and a dog died in the house fire in the Minnesota town. Neighbors called 911 to report fire coming through the roof, and response crews arrived to find a “fully involved structure fire.”
Fire Chief Greg Peterson confirmed that one of the victims was Jessi Pierce, adding that Pierce was her professional name and Hinrichs was her married name.
The other victims were identified as her three children: 8-year-old Hudson Hinrichs, 6-year-old Cayden Hinrichs and 4-year-old Avery Hinrichs.
Peterson said the four will "forever be loved and remembered by their husband and father, Mike Hinrichs, and the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi communities."
Preliminary findings from the investigation have not led to any evidence that the fire was set intentionally, Peterson said.
"The official cause and further information will be released once the investigation is complete," he said.
A GoFundMe page, verified by NBC News, to raise funds for funeral expenses and provide financial support for the family said Pierce was "devoted to her family, going above and beyond to create many moments of joy and everlasting memories." The page added that her children "shared Jessi’s zest for life and love for adventure.”
Pierce was a contributor to NHL.com for 10 seasons and covered the Minnesota Wild, her hometown team. NHL.com called Pierce “a fixture on the area’s sports scene” in an obituary online.
NHL.com remembered Pierce as a smiling presence at Grand Casino Arena, “often cloaked in a blanket to combat the cold in the press box.”
The obituary also highlighted her role as a mother, saying that Pierce was “intensely proud” of her family. “When Pierce started her family, she would sometimes show up to a Wild practice with one of her young children on her hip, melding family and work into a modern-day package,” the obituary reads.
The Minnesota Wild also shared their heartbreak over the loss, remembering Pierce as “a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her.”
"She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL," the team said. "Jessi and her children will be greatly missed."
Michael Russo, a reporter for The Athletic, said on X that “a lot of tears were shed at the arena yesterday” during last night’s game against the Dallas Stars.
“We, in the Wild media and inside the Wild, will miss seeing Jessi everyday, laughing with her everyday,” he added. “The press box and press room won’t be the same without her.”
