A quiet Minnesota neighborhood was shattered before sunrise when a fast-moving house fire claimed the lives of a well-known hockey reporter and her three young children.
According to the New York Post, Jessi Pierce, 37, and her children died in the blaze early Saturday in White Bear Lake, according to the National Hockey League.
Local officials confirmed that one adult and three children were killed but did not initially release their identities.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene shortly before 5:30 a.m. after neighbors called 911. By the time firefighters arrived, the home was already fully engulfed.
A nearby resident described waking to chaos as first responders flooded the area.
“We were sleeping. By the time the cops woke us, it was like a tornado of smoke,” neighbor Julie Andrus told The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Firefighters battled what authorities described as a “fully involved structure fire,” but the intensity of the flames left little chance for rescue. A family dog was also found dead inside the home.
In a statement, the National Hockey League expressed grief over the loss.
“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. “Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.”
Pierce had spent the past 10 seasons covering the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com.
Over the years, she also contributed to multiple hockey publications and co-hosted the “Bardown Beauties” podcast, building a reputation as a passionate and energetic voice in the sport.
Tributes quickly poured in from across the hockey community, including from colleagues who had worked alongside her for years.
Michael Russo of The Athletic identified the children as Hudson, Cayden, and Avery, and noted that Pierce is survived by her husband, Mike.
In a statement, the Minnesota Wild organization said it was “heartbroken” by the tragedy.
“Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her,” the team said. “She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL.”
Just hours before the fire, Pierce had shared moments from a family outing, posting photos from a visit to a local ice cream shop.
Russo reflected on her life and career in a lengthy tribute, remembering her as someone who brought energy and warmth to everyone she encountered.
“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,” he wrote.
“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.”
He added: “Life can be unbearably unfair sometimes, and it’s impossible to make sense of this tragedy.”
The cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
