The National Hockey League family is mourning the devastating passing of a key member of their crew.
Jessi Pierce, a beloved reporter for the NHL, along with her three children were killed in a house fire in Minnesota on Saturday, March 21.
The White Bear Lake Fire Department was alerted to the fire by neighbors who flagged there were likely people inside the home, a single-family residence located on the 2100 block of Richard Avenue, where firefighters arrived at around 5:25 a.m. local time.
Here’s the latest.
A heartbreaking final photo
Jessi, who was 37 at the time of her death, had shared photos of her three children, Hudson, Cayden and Avery, just one day before their horrific passing.
Shared on Twitter (now X), one photo sees her three kids sitting around a fountain enjoying some ice cream, while another sees one of her sons munching on a large sandwich. “bag(s) secured,” she captioned it.
© XThe GoFundMe
Following the fatal fire, a fundraiser on GoFundMe was swiftly launched with the hopes of raising $140k. It has as of this writing raised $79k.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of Jessi Hinrichs (Pierce), her three children, and their family dog,” the fundraiser page reads. “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,” it further stated.
© GoFundMeJessi’s husband
Jessi posted frequently to her Instagram, but mostly glimpses inside her work as an NHL reporter.
Little is known about her personal life, though she and her children are survived by her husband, Mike Hinrichs.
© InstagramWho was Jessi?
Jessi graduated from Iowa State University, after which she began working for the Minnesota Wild, and went on to have her work featured in countless sports publications, including USA Hockey, The Athletic (which is owned by the New York Times) and the Minnesota Hockey Journal.
She was also a contributor to NHL.com for the past 10 seasons, as well as a co-host of the Bardown Beauties podcast, alongside Kristen Krull. Kristen wrote of her on Instagram: “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.”
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