The hockey world is heavy with grief today as it processes a loss that feels almost too vast to comprehend. Jessi Pierce, a cornerstone of the Minnesota hockey media landscape and a dedicated NHL.com beat reporter for the Minnesota Wild, has passed away at the age of 38. Tragically, the fire that took her life also claimed the lives of her three young children—Hudson, Cayden, and Avery—and the family’s beloved dog in the early hours of Saturday, March 21.
Jessi was more than just a byline; she was a vibrant presence who had covered the Wild for over a decade and shared her insights weekly as a co-host of a popular hockey podcast. Her passing has left a void not only in the press box but in the hearts of everyone who knew her bubbly personality and tireless work ethic.
A quiet tribute to a voice that championed the game of hockey for over a decade.
The National Hockey League released an official statement expressing the collective heartbreak of the organization: “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. Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.”
A Morning of Unthinkable Tragedy
The devastating blaze broke out just before 5:30 a.m. in the quiet community of White Bear Lake. When emergency crews arrived on the scene at 5:26 a.m., following frantic 911 calls from neighbors, they found the home already fully engulfed in flames. Witnesses reported seeing fire “coming through the roof,” a terrifying sight that signaled the gravity of the situation before responders could even enter the structure.
While authorities initially confirmed the deaths of one adult and three children, they withheld identities during the first agonizing hours of the investigation. Neighbors described a scene of pure chaos and heartbreak. Julie Andrus, who lives nearby, spoke to the Minnesota Star Tribune about the harrowing moments: “We were sleeping. By the time the cops woke us, it was like a tornado of smoke.”
In a detail that makes the tragedy even more poignant, Jessi had shared a glimpse of her life as a devoted mother just one day before the fire. On Friday, she posted a photo on social media showing her and her children enjoying a simple, happy moment at a local ice-cream shop—a memory that now serves as a final testament to her love for her kids.
The community gathers to light the way for a family gone too soon.
A Career Built on Passion and Connection
Jessi Pierce was a proud graduate of Iowa State University and spent her career becoming one of the most respected voices in hockey journalism. Her resume was a “who’s who” of sports media, with contributions to USA Hockey, The Athletic, the Minnesota Hockey Journal, and Massachusetts Hockey. Whether she was writing a deep-dive feature or interviewing players after a tough loss, her dedication to the sport was unwavering.
The news of her passing sent shockwaves through the NHL. Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette, who worked closely with Jessi during his time in Minnesota, shared a moving tribute: “I just wanted to pass on my condolences for Jessi Pierce. I’ve known her a long time. She was a wonderful person, loved hockey, loved people, somebody I looked forward to all the time when I would go to Minnesota. It’s a sad day in hockey. Her passion for the game, her passion for the Wild, is unsurpassed, and we’re going to miss her. It’s a tragedy.”
Michael Russo, a fellow Wild beat writer for The Athletic, echoed those sentiments, struggling to find words for the loss. “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 Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend.”
The Heart of a Mother
Beyond the press box and the hockey rinks, Jessi’s true north was her family. Friends and colleagues have emphasized that while she loved her career, she lived for her children: Hudson, Cayden, and Avery. Russo noted, “More than anything, she absolutely loved Hudson, Cayden and Avery and was the greatest mother who did everything she could to bring joy to her sweetest kids.”
Kristen Krull, Jessi’s co-host on the Bardown Beauties podcast, shared a deeply personal reflection on their bond: “Family isn’t always blood, but the people you choose and that couldn’t have been more true. Jessi was like another big sister to me. 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. Most importantly, she was the best mom and loved her kids and family fiercely.”
Together in life, and together in peace, Jessi and her children leave behind a legacy of love.
How the Community is Stepping Up
In the wake of this unimaginable loss, a GoFundMe campaign was established to support the family, specifically Jessi’s husband and the children’s father, Mike Hinrichs. The fundraiser, which set an initial goal of $140,000, has already seen an outpouring of support, raising over $79,000 in a very short time.
The fundraiser page captures the essence of the family: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of Jessi Hinrichs (Pierce), her three children, and their family dog. Jessi had a larger-than-life personality and an even bigger heart. She was devoted to her family, going above and beyond to create many moments of joy and everlasting memories. The children, each with their own unique personalities, shared Jessi’s zest for life and love for adventure. They leave behind Mike, husband to Jessi and loving father of their children, who is now experiencing an unimaginably difficult time.”
Jessi and her children are survived by Mike Hinrichs, who now faces the daunting task of navigating a world without his wife and children. As the hockey community rallies around him, the memories of Jessi’s laughter, her sharp hockey mind, and her fierce love for her family remain a source of comfort to those she left behind.
May Jessi, Hudson, Cayden, Avery, and their loyal companion rest in peace.
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