The hockey community is reeling after the tragic deaths of longtime NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children in a Minnesota house fire on March 21, 2026, according to the Star Tribune. Pierce was beloved as a Minnesota Wild reporter for NHL.com, a popular podcast host, and a regular contributor to multiple Twin Cities radio stations, including KFAN, SkorNorth, and WCCO Radio.
Tributes from the NHL, Pierce’s peers, and countless fans rolled in after the Minnesota Wild announced that the tragic fire claimed the life of Pierce, 37, and her children — Hudson, Cayden, and Avery.
Fire at Jessi Pierce’s Home Occurred Early in the Morning & Neighbors Called 911
Authorities in White Bear Lake, a Twin Cities suburb, a house fire broke out at Pierce’s home and an emergency call was placed at 5:26 a.m. on March 21, per Bring Me the News. Once the fire was suppressed, firefighters found the bodies of Pierce, her children, and the family’s dog, the outlet said.
According to a statement from the White Bear Lake Fire Department, neighbors called 911 after “seeing fire coming from the roof of the house” and reported that there were likely people inside. Nine fire departments responded to the single-family home to fight the blaze.
A cause of the fire is not yet known, the department said, noting that “it is a very difficult and sad day for our community … Our main focus at this time is on everyone affected by this tragedy.” The statement said the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office will lead an investigation into the fire.
Colleagues & Fans Have Flooded Social Media With Tributes to Jessi Pierce
Countless fans, friends, and peers in the hockey community have paid tribute to Pierce. On March 22, the NHL released a statement that said, “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.”
Bill Price, VP, Editor-in-Chief of NHL.com, said his team is “devastated” by Pierce’s death, noting, “Jessi’s love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us.”
Kirsten Krull, Pierce’s co-host on the weekly Bardown Beauties podcast, wrote a lengthy tribute on X, that said Pierce was “like another big sister to me.” She also called Pierce’s children “the best kids and I’m so grateful she let me be part of their lives. The visits on game days, being able to come to their house and hang out with the family are memories I cherish.”
Fans have flooded social media posts about Pierce, including her last Instagram post made on March 20, with touching comments, including one who wrote, “RIP Jessi, you will be greatly missed by the entire state of hockey 💔”
Someone else wrote on Hockey Forever’s post about Pierce, “The hockey world just got rocked. I’m in total shock. So tragic for a hockey family embedded in the community. This is a tough one. They will be dearly missed 💔”
