NHL.com Correspondent Jessi Pierce and Three Children Killed in Minnesota House Fire

Jessi Pierce, a 37-year-old correspondent for NHL.com, died alongside her three children in a house fire at her home on Richard Avenue in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The children killed were Hudson, age 8, Cayden, age 6, and Avera, age 4. Neighbors first noticed flames coming from the property and called emergency services without hesitation, according to reporting by The Guardian. When firefighters arrived, the building was already almost completely engulfed in flames. Inside, they found the bodies of Pierce and all three children. Pierce's husband, Mike, survived because he was away from the home at the time due to professional duties. Investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Neighbors raised the alarm as flames consumed the house White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson confirmed the incident and addressed the community in a statement. „Our deepest condolences go out to all those affected by this tragedy.” — Greg Peterson via Focus The fire department responded to the call on Saturday morning, but by the time crews reached the scene, the house had been overtaken by flames. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, with investigators examining the site in the days following the incident. No information on a timeline for the investigation's conclusion has been confirmed.

NHL and Minnesota Wild issue statements of mourning The National Hockey League issued an official statement mourning the loss of Pierce and her children. „The entire National Hockey League family extends prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the death 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. She will be deeply missed.” — National Hockey League via sport.interia.pl The editor-in-chief of NHL.com also spoke publicly about the loss, saying the entire team was deeply affected and noting that Pierce's love for family and hockey had been reflected throughout her work. The Minnesota Wild, the team Pierce had covered most closely in recent years, also released a statement. „Our hearts are broken, and we join the entire hockey community in mourning the tragic loss of Jessi and her children. May they rest in peace.” — Minnesota Wild via sport.interia.pl The news sent shockwaves through both the professional hockey world and the broader Minneapolis–Saint Paul community, where Pierce was a well-known and widely respected figure.

A decade of coverage defined by professionalism and warmth Pierce had worked as a correspondent for NHL.com for a decade, with a particular focus in recent years on the Minnesota Wild. Colleagues and athletes remembered her as a professional who brought both passion and a warm personal manner to her work, frequently recognized in press boxes for her approachability. The news of her death, along with that of her three young children, drew an outpouring of grief from across the hockey community. Her husband Mike, the only member of the immediate family to survive, was not present at the home at the time of the fire. The investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing, and no official findings have been released.

House fires remain one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States. White Bear Lake is a city in Ramsey County in the state of Minnesota, situated within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The Minnesota Wild, the NHL franchise Pierce covered, are based in Saint Paul and compete in the league's Central Division.