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Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin joined members of the hockey community to mourn the loss of beloved hockey writer Jessi Pierce and her three young children in a tragic house fire Saturday.
Guerin spoke with reporters, where he called Pierce, a Wild reporter for NHL.com, a “ray of sunshine,” and couldn’t contain how “devastated” he was for his family and friends.
“Words simply cannot express how devastated we all are,” Guerin said. “But, as I mentioned to some of you the other night, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the media, if you’re a player, if you’re a manager, if you’re a coach, we’re all in the world of sports and hockey and we’re all in this together.
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Jessi Pierce, left, covered the Minnesota Wild. (Minnesota Wild/AP)
Guerin explained what it was like interacting with Pierce at work.
“Jessi was always happy, always in a good mood, always a pleasure to deal with, and we will miss her,” he said. “The great thing about our community is that no matter what side you are in – media, player, coach, manager – we are all in this together and we support each other.
“I just want you to know that we are here for you and whatever we can do to help you through the tough times, we are here for you.”
NHL WRITER, 3 CHILDREN DIE IN MINNESOTA HOUSE FIRE, OFFICIALS SAY
Pierce covered the Wild for 10 seasons with NHL.com, impacting not only Guerin and the front office, but the players as well. Wild forward Marcus Foligno told reporters the entire team was “devastated” to hear the news about Pierce, saying they would “definitely miss her on the ice.”
Pierce was known for bringing her children to work, something Wild captain Jared Spurgeon noted.
“If you ever met her, you just feel the energy around her,” he said. “Every time she was here, she had a smile on her face, whether it was the game in progress or just youth sports.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is introduced before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Grand Casino Arena on February 2, 2026 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI)
“I remember when she brought the kids into the dressing room and did an interview while holding [her son]. This is very difficult news to accept.”
Pierce has also featured his work in The Athletic, the B1G Ice Hockey blog, the Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey.
The incident involving Pierce and her children occurred in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, firefighters said. The White Bear Lake Fire Department responded to a call of a fire at a single-family home early Saturday morning.
Passersby reported seeing flames coming through the roof, according to FOX 9. Firefighters also located the family dog, who also died in the fire.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin speaks with the media about the trade for Quinn Hughes before the game against the Ottawa Senators at Grand Casino Arena on December 13, 2025 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI)
“The Minnesota Wild organization is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her children,” the Wild said in a statement. “Jessi was a kind and compassionate person who cared deeply about her family and those around her. She was a dedicated ambassador for hockey while covering the Wild and the NHL.
“Jessi and her children will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their family, friends and all who knew and loved them.”
