Iowa State alum, longtime Wild reporter Jessi Pierce killed in Minnesota house fire

The hockey world is mourning the loss of Jessi Pierce, the longtime Minnesota Wild reporter who died alongside her three children in a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, according to authorities and the NHL.Pierce, 37, was widely known as a constant presence around the Wild, building a career around the team she grew up loving. But long before she became a fixture in Minnesota hockey media, she was sharpening her voice in Iowa.A graduate of Iowa State University, Pierce helped elevate coverage of the Cyclones’ club hockey program while working in student media. Chris Peters, a friend and colleague who first worked with her at Iowa State, said her passion for hockey was obvious from the beginning.“She had been a team manager at her high school,” Peters said. “You could just tell she was super passionate about it.” That passion quickly turned into impact. Peters said Pierce stood out immediately when she joined the media efforts for the Iowa State men’s hockey club and soon took on a major role promoting the program.“She was impossible to miss,” he said. “She was everywhere. She would do anything.”Firefighters responded to a house fire Saturday morning in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Neighbors called 911 and reported seeing flames coming through the roof. Fire crews located an adult, three children and a dog inside the house and all were deceased, the White Bear Lake Fire Department said. The department did not release the names of the victims in its statement Saturday.The cause of the fire is under investigation.“Our hearts ache for those involved in this tragedy. We ask for the opportunity to allow our community to come together and support one another during this difficult time,” Fire Chief Greg Peterson said in the statement.The Minnesota Wild mourned her loss on social media Sunday.“Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as an ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL,” the social media post said.According to Peters, Pierce didn’t just cover teams — she helped build attention around them. He said she brought energy, creativity and a willingness to embrace new platforms, from traditional writing to podcasts and social media, in ways that made programs and players more visible. In a statement, the Iowa State men’s hockey club said Pierce “played an important role in supporting our program and showcasing the athletes.” See Pierce’s writing for the Iowa State Daily here.After Iowa State, Pierce continued her hockey media path with an internship connected to USA Hockey before returning to Minnesota, where she built a freelance career that eventually made her one of the most recognizable reporters covering the Wild. She also occasionally covered the Iowa Wild and featured some of the AHL players on a podcast she co-hosted with Kirsten Krull called Bardown Beauties. Even as her profile grew, Peters said Pierce never lost the warmth that made people gravitate toward her.“Everyone that met her loved her immediately,” he said. “She was such a gregarious figure, but also so welcoming and encouraging.”He said Pierce also set an example for others in the industry, especially women balancing journalism and motherhood. “She covered practice in the morning, and she was with her kids getting ice cream at night,” he said. “That was her in a nutshell.”The NHL, meanwhile, called her “a fixture at Minnesota Wild games.” “The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jessi and her children,” said Bill Price, vice president and editor-in-chief of NHL.com, in a statement. “Jessi’s love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us. She was an absolute joy to talk to and work with. She will be deeply missed.”For those who knew her in Iowa, Pierce’s legacy is not only the career she built, but the way she built it — with relentless passion, generosity and a deep love for the game.“She carved a path that was completely her own,” Peters said. “She was one of a kind.”Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.

AMES, Iowa —

The hockey world is mourning the loss of Jessi Pierce, the longtime Minnesota Wild reporter who died alongside her three children in a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, according to authorities and the NHL.

Pierce, 37, was widely known as a constant presence around the Wild, building a career around the team she grew up loving. But long before she became a fixture in Minnesota hockey media, she was sharpening her voice in Iowa.

A graduate of Iowa State University, Pierce helped elevate coverage of the Cyclones’ club hockey program while working in student media. Chris Peters, a friend and colleague who first worked with her at Iowa State, said her passion for hockey was obvious from the beginning.

“She had been a team manager at her high school,” Peters said. “You could just tell she was super passionate about it.”

That passion quickly turned into impact. Peters said Pierce stood out immediately when she joined the media efforts for the Iowa State men’s hockey club and soon took on a major role promoting the program.

“She was impossible to miss,” he said. “She was everywhere. She would do anything.”

Firefighters responded to a house fire Saturday morning in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Neighbors called 911 and reported seeing flames coming through the roof. Fire crews located an adult, three children and a dog inside the house and all were deceased, the White Bear Lake Fire Department said. The department did not release the names of the victims in its statement Saturday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“Our hearts ache for those involved in this tragedy. We ask for the opportunity to allow our community to come together and support one another during this difficult time,” Fire Chief Greg Peterson said in the statement.

The Minnesota Wild mourned her loss on social media Sunday.

“Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as an ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL,” the social media post said.

According to Peters, Pierce didn’t just cover teams — she helped build attention around them. He said she brought energy, creativity and a willingness to embrace new platforms, from traditional writing to podcasts and social media, in ways that made programs and players more visible.

In a statement, the Iowa State men’s hockey club said Pierce “played an important role in supporting our program and showcasing the athletes.”

See Pierce’s writing for the Iowa State Daily here.

After Iowa State, Pierce continued her hockey media path with an internship connected to USA Hockey before returning to Minnesota, where she built a freelance career that eventually made her one of the most recognizable reporters covering the Wild. She also occasionally covered the Iowa Wild and featured some of the AHL players on a podcast she co-hosted with Kirsten Krull called Bardown Beauties.

Even as her profile grew, Peters said Pierce never lost the warmth that made people gravitate toward her.

“Everyone that met her loved her immediately,” he said. “She was such a gregarious figure, but also so welcoming and encouraging.”

He said Pierce also set an example for others in the industry, especially women balancing journalism and motherhood.

“She covered practice in the morning, and she was with her kids getting ice cream at night,” he said. “That was her in a nutshell.”

The NHL, meanwhile, called her “a fixture at Minnesota Wild games.”

“The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jessi and her children,” said Bill Price, vice president and editor-in-chief of NHL.com, in a statement. “Jessi’s love of her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us. She was an absolute joy to talk to and work with. She will be deeply missed.”

For those who knew her in Iowa, Pierce’s legacy is not only the career she built, but the way she built it — with relentless passion, generosity and a deep love for the game.

“She carved a path that was completely her own,” Peters said. “She was one of a kind.”

Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.