The hockey world is mourning a heartbreaking tragedy involving Jessi Pierce’s husband, Mike Hinrichs, who has suffered a huge loss.
On March 21, 2026, a devastating house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, claimed the lives of Jessi Pierce, her three young children, Hudson, Cayden, and Avery, and the family’s beloved dog.
Jessi, 37, was a cherished NHL reporter and the longtime Minnesota Wild correspondent for NHL.com.
Mike, her husband of nearly 10 years, was at work when the fire broke out early that morning.
Fortunately, He survived, but his entire immediate family was taken from him in an instant.
Jessi and Her Husband, Mike, had Built a Beautiful Life Together
Jessi and Mike had built a beautiful life together. They married in October 2016 after being a couple for over 12 years.
Their first child arrived in 2017, followed by two more. The family lived in White Bear Lake, where they created joyful memories.
Jessi occasionally shared beautiful moments of their life on social media, happy family outings, holidays, and quiet moments.
The last time Mike appeared in one of her posts was Christmas 2024, when the whole crew looked full of joy and love.
Mike, a native of White Bear Lake, graduated from White Bear Lake Area High School and Century College in 2007.
He’s a lifelong Minnesota sports fan, especially passionate about hockey.
Professionally, he worked as an Area Manager in asset protection before stepping into his current role as a Business Development Manager at ASSA ABLOY Group since 2023.
There, he’s known as a strong sales leader who builds customer solutions, coaches teams, and drives growth through account management.
Outside work, he gave back to the community by coaching youth hockey for two years, sharing his love of the game with the next generation.
Whereas, Jessi was a bright light in the Minnesota hockey scene.
A graduate of Mahtomedi High School, she earned her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University in 2010.
Early in her career, she interned at USA Hockey in Colorado, worked briefly at a newspaper in upstate New York, and spent just over a year at the Brainerd Dispatch from 2012 to 2013, covering community news, writing stories, and shooting photos and video.
She returned home and spent roughly a decade covering the Wild for NHL.com, becoming a fixture with her passionate reporting, insightful interviews, and genuine enthusiasm.
Beyond her writing, Jessi co-hosted the popular “Bardown Beauties” podcast with Kirsten Krull and regularly appeared on SKOR North radio podcasts, chatting about the Wild and even the Vikings.
She brought energy and warmth to every role, always smiling and lifting those around her.
Born to her father, John Pierce, Jessi often posted about him on Instagram, sharing childhood photos with her parents and siblings.
She cherished her family deeply, balancing her career with motherhood and marriage.
The NHL, Minnesota Wild, and the broader hockey community have poured out tributes.
Michael Russo of The Athletic called Jessi
“the most vibrant person, the life of the party, always with a smile,”
Via X
and expressed heartbreak for Mike.
The league and teams have offered prayers and support, noting Jessi’s lifelong love for hockey and her family.
Jessi and her children are survived by Mike, her father John Pierce, and many grieving family members and friends.
Additionally, a fundraiser has been launched to help Mike during this difficult time, with an 80K USD goal, and so far, over 54K has been raised to cover funeral expenses and to provide financial support for the family.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Hinrichs and everyone who loved Jessi and the kids.
The hockey family stands with him.
