Hockey World Mourns Jessi Pierce, NHL Reporter Killed in House Fire With Her Kids: 'The Life of the Party, Always With a Smile'
The hockey world is grieving one of its most beloved voices.
Jessi Pierce, a Minnesota Wild reporter for NHL.com for the past decade, died early Saturday morning in a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. She was 38. Her three children — Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4 — and the family dog also succumbed to the fire, which broke out at approximately 5:26 a.m. Neighbors who called 911 reported seeing flames coming through the roof and said people were likely still inside.
Pierce's husband Mike Hinrichs was not home at the time of the fire.
Tributes for Jessi Pierce
In the hours that followed, tributes poured in from across the hockey world — from the NHL itself down to the beat reporters, podcasters, and fans who had spent years listening to her voice cover the game she loved.
"Jessi was the most vibrant person — the life of the party, always with a smile," veteran hockey writer Michael Russo wrote on X. "I have literally never met anybody who had a way of being everybody's friend. The press box and press room won't be the same. It'll be a lot quieter, a lot less funny." Russo added: "More than anything, she absolutely loved Hudson, Cayden and Avery. She was the greatest mother."
There are no words to express how heartbroken we all are.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 22, 2026
Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) was the most vibrant person - the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did. Jessi simply loved covering the…
Kirsten Krull, Pierce's co-host on the weekly Bardown Beauties podcast, described her as family. "Jessi was like another big sister to me," Krull wrote in her post on X. "She had a confidence and a way of being able to talk to anyone that I envied. She had an unmatched work ethic and a huge heart. Any time I needed help, needed to rant, or needed someone she was there without hesitation." Krull also remembered Pierce's children fondly. "Hudson, Cayden and Avery were the best kids and I'm so grateful she let me be part of their lives."
The NHL released a statement saying the league was sending its "prayers and deepest condolences" to the Pierce family. "Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly."
'She Was An Absolute Joy to Talk to And Work With'
Bill Price, VP and Editor-in-Chief of NHL.com, said Pierce's passion for both her work and her family was immediately evident to everyone around her. "Jessi's love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us. She was an absolute joy to talk to and work with. She will be deeply missed."
Linda Cohn, the longtime ESPN SportsCenter anchor, said she was "devastated and heartbroken." "Jessi was beautiful inside and out," Cohn wrote. "Her passion outside of her family was hockey. I was always thrilled and shared so many laughs with her."