Jessi Pierce Bio, Age, Career, Family & Legacy | NHL Reporter Tribute

Jessi Pierce — known to the hockey world simply as Jessi — was one of the most beloved and respected sports journalists in the Minnesota media landscape. A dedicated NHL reporter and Minnesota Wild correspondent for NHL.com for over a decade, she built her career through hard work, infectious enthusiasm, and an unmatched love for the game of hockey. Tragically, Jessi Pierce and her three young children, Hudson, Cayden, and Avery, lost their lives in a devastating house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on March 22, 2026 — leaving the hockey world and her entire community in mourning.

Pierce was famous for her 10-season run as the Minnesota Wild’s reporter for NHL.com, her role as co-host of the Bardown Beauties podcast, and her warm, approachable presence in a sport that often feels guarded. She was not just a reporter — she was a fixture, a friend, a voice, and an ambassador for hockey at every level.

⚡ Quick Facts

🏒 Early Life & Education

Jessi Pierce grew up in Minnesota, a state that breathes hockey — and it showed in everything she did. She was raised with a deep love for the sport, the community, and the outdoors. Her family had roots in International Falls, Minnesota, a small northern border city well-known in hockey circles, and she spent meaningful time there with relatives near Rainy Lake. Those formative years shaped both her character and her career path.

Pierce attended Mahtomedi High School in the eastern Twin Cities metro area, where she developed her passion for writing and sports. After graduating, she enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa — an institution she remained proudly connected to throughout her life. She was frequently spotted at Wild practices wearing her beloved Iowa State sweatshirt, a small but telling sign of the loyalty she carried everywhere she went.

At Iowa State, Pierce covered multiple sports in both print and video formats, honing the range and versatility that would serve her so well throughout her career. By the time she was just 18 years old, she had already set her sights on a very specific dream: becoming an NHL writer. It wasn’t a vague ambition — it was a goal she pursued with focus and determination from the very start.

📰 Career Journey

The Early Years: Intern to Emerging Voice (2011–2014)

Jessi Pierce’s path to the NHL press box was anything but a straight line — and she was proud of that. Her career started in earnest around 2011, when Pioneer Press sports writer Jess Myers first crossed paths with her while she was interning at USA Hockey in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That early exposure to national hockey operations gave her a foundation few journalists could claim.

From Colorado, she took on a reporting role at a newspaper in upstate New York — including time in the Syracuse area — where she gained valuable experience in daily journalism. She also spent time working out of Brainerd, Minnesota. These stops were not detours; they were building blocks, each one adding polish and depth to a reporter still growing into her voice.

Return to Minnesota & Rise at NHL.com (2014–2020)

After her time in the Northeast, Pierce returned home to Minnesota, where her career truly found its footing. She joined NHL.com as the Minnesota Wild’s beat reporter — a position she would hold for the next decade. It was the realization of that dream she first spoke aloud at 18, and she embraced it fully.

At NHL.com, Pierce quickly became a fixture in the press box at Grand Casino Arena (home of the Wild), often bundled up in a blanket to fight off the arena cold, greeting every player, coach, and media colleague with a warm smile and genuine curiosity. Her reporting was known for being informed, insightful, and accessible — never talking down to casual fans while still satisfying hardcore hockey followers.

She also worked directly with the Minnesota Wild organization in various capacities, cementing a relationship with the franchise that ran deep over the years.

Bardown Beauties Podcast & Expanded Media Presence (2019–2026)

Beyond her writing, Jessi Pierce became a recognizable voice across Twin Cities sports media. She co-hosted the widely popular Bardown Beauties: A Minnesota Wild & Hockey Podcast alongside Kirsten Krull, a collaboration with Skor North. The show gave Pierce a platform to express her opinions, humor, and depth of knowledge in a conversational format that fans adored.

She was also a regular contributor on Skor North and KFAN, two of Minnesota’s top sports radio and podcast platforms, and even appeared on a Minnesota Vikings podcast. Her byline extended far beyond NHL.com, appearing in publications including:

• The Athletic (as the Wild correspondent)
• USA Hockey
• Minnesota Hockey Journal
• Massachusetts Hockey
• B1G Ice Hockey Blog (Big Ten hockey coverage)
• Minnesota Hockey

In 2024, she served as the emcee for the championship celebration when the Minnesota Frost won their first PWHL title — a career highlight that spoke to just how deeply woven she was into the Minnesota hockey ecosystem at every level.

Final Season & Lasting Legacy (2025–2026)

Right up until the end of her life, Pierce remained fully engaged with her work. She attended Wild practices, filed stories, appeared on podcasts, and kept up an active, upbeat social media presence on X (formerly Twitter). The day before the tragedy — Friday, March 20, 2026 — she was at Wild practice wearing her Iowa State sweatshirt, already excitedly planning to take her children to the seasonal opening of the local ice cream shop, Cup and Cone, in White Bear Lake. She shared photos on social media that Friday of herself enjoying sandwiches and ice cream with her three kids.

Her career spanned roughly 15 years in sports media, with a decade as one of the most trusted and beloved voices in NHL journalism in the United States.

Career Publications & Affiliations — At a Glance

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Personal Life

To those who covered hockey alongside Jessi Pierce, it was clear that her greatest title was not reporter or podcaster — it was Mom. She spoke openly about her children and regularly brought that warmth into her professional world. Colleagues recalled how, when her oldest child was still a baby, she would show up to Wild practices with an infant strapped to her chest in a carrier, conducting player interviews while players crowded around to adore the little one.

Family

• Husband: Mike Hinrichs — Pierce’s devoted husband, who survived the house fire. He was described by friends and colleagues as part of her loving, close-knit world. In a statement following the tragedy, he called Jessi “beautiful, vibrant, and full of life,” saying she “lit up every room she walked into and made everyone feel welcome.”
• Son: Hudson Hinrichs
• Son: Cayden Hinrichs
• Daughter: Avery Hinrichs

Pierce maintained an active and joyful social media presence, regularly posting photos of her kids, family outings, and rinkside moments. She balanced the demands of a high-profile sports journalism career with genuine, hands-on motherhood in a way that earned her enormous admiration from peers and fans.

She had deep family ties to International Falls, Minnesota, a hockey-rich community on the Canadian border, and often returned there to spend time with relatives on Rainy Lake. That connection to Minnesota’s outdoors and its hockey heartland was a core part of who she was.

Community Involvement

Pierce gave back generously to the game that gave so much to her. For nearly a decade, she participated in the annual hockey festival run by the Hendrickson Foundation, which supports athletes with disabilities who play hockey. Those who worked the event described her as always arriving with “so much positive energy,” happy to be there and focused on making others smile.

⚠️ Controversies

Jessi Pierce was not a figure of controversy. In a media landscape often marred by conflict and criticism, she stood out as someone who led with kindness, professionalism, and genuine love for what she did. No notable controversies were associated with her career or personal life. Her legacy is one of integrity, warmth, and commitment.

🏆 Awards & Achievements

• ✅ 10-season contributor to NHL.com as the Minnesota Wild’s beat reporter — a rare and distinguished tenure
• ✅ Named “a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey” by the Minnesota Wild organization
• ✅ Emcee for the Minnesota Frost’s first-ever PWHL championship celebration (2024)
• ✅ Co-host of the Bardown Beauties podcast — one of the most recognized Minnesota Wild fan and media podcasts
• ✅ Regular on-air personality on Skor North and KFAN, two of Minnesota’s leading sports stations
• ✅ Trusted contributor to The Athletic, USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey Journal, and several other respected publications
• ✅ Active supporter of the Hendrickson Foundation for nearly a decade
• ✅ Remembered by the National Hockey League as a “valued member of the NHL.com team” and someone who “loved our game”

📏 Physical Statistics

💬 Quotes

“Jessi Pierce was the most vibrant person — the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did.”

— Michael Russo, The Athletic (in tribute)

“She was a respected journalist second and an amazing mother first.”

— Jess Myers, Pioneer Press

“Jessi was beautiful, vibrant, and full of life — she lit up every room she walked into and made everyone feel welcome. She left a lasting mark on everyone lucky enough to know her.”

— Mike Hinrichs, Jessi’s husband

❤️ Favorites

• Favorite Team: Minnesota Wild (her life’s work)
• Favorite University: Iowa State University (Cyclones)
• Favorite Spot: Rainy Lake with family in International Falls, MN
• Favorite Treat: Ice cream at Cup and Cone in White Bear Lake (a family tradition)
• Favorite Wardrobe Item: Her beloved Iowa State sweatshirt (worn to Wild practices)

💰 Earnings & Net Worth

Jessi Pierce’s career was built on passion for the sport rather than the pursuit of celebrity wealth. While exact figures were never publicly confirmed, industry estimates suggest her income came primarily from her NHL.com contributor role, freelance writing for outlets like The Athletic and others, and her podcasting work with Bardown Beauties. Experienced NHL.com reporters and specialty sports journalists typically earn mid-range salaries within the sports media industry. Pierce’s net worth was modest but reflective of a dedicated, decade-long career in a specialized and competitive field she truly loved.

🎯 Interesting Facts

• 🏒 Jessi Pierce first announced her dream of becoming an NHL writer when she was just 18 years old — and she achieved exactly that.
• 👶 She was known for conducting player interviews at Wild practices with her infant son strapped to her chest, charming players and coaches alike.
• 🧣 She was a familiar sight in the press box at Grand Casino Arena, wrapped in a blanket against the cold, always with a smile for everyone she met.
• 📍 Her career took her from Colorado Springs to upstate New York to Brainerd, MN before finally landing her dream role back in her home state.
• 🎙️ She served as the official emcee when the Minnesota Frost lifted the PWHL’s first championship trophy in 2024.
• 🏒 Her byline appeared across youth hockey, high school, college, and pro-level publications, making her one of the most versatile hockey writers in Minnesota.
• 🎗️ She gave back to the sport for nearly a decade through the Hendrickson Foundation, supporting disabled youth hockey players.
• 🌊 She had deep roots in International Falls, MN — a northern Minnesota city with serious hockey heritage — and regularly visited family there on Rainy Lake.

🤔 Did You Know Already?

• Did you know Jessi Pierce covered hockey at every single level — from youth programs and high school to the NHL? Very few journalists can claim that kind of breadth.
• Did you know she co-hosted a Minnesota Vikings podcast in addition to her hockey work, showing just how versatile and multi-sport her media presence was?
• Did you know that the day before the fire, Jessi posted cheerful family photos from a Friday outing with Hudson, Cayden, and Avery — a heartbreaking reminder of the joy she brought to every moment?
• Did you know Jessi’s podcast co-host, Kirsten Krull, described her as being like “another big sister”? That kind of bond was a testament to how deeply she connected with the people around her.

🌐 Social Media Links

• 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): @jessi_pierce
• 📰 NHL.com Profile: NHL.com (contributor page)
• 🎙️ Bardown Beauties Podcast: Available on major podcast platforms via Skor North

Note: Out of respect for the Pierce family during their time of mourning, readers are encouraged to visit these pages only to celebrate Jessi’s extraordinary body of work.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Jessi Pierce

Who was Jessi Pierce?

Jessi Pierce was a Minnesota-based sports journalist who worked as the Minnesota Wild beat reporter for NHL.com for roughly 10 seasons. She was also the co-host of the Bardown Beauties podcast and a contributor to The Athletic, USA Hockey, and several other sports media outlets. She was widely regarded as one of the warmest and most respected voices in Minnesota hockey media.

How did Jessi Pierce die?

Jessi Pierce and her three young children — Hudson, Cayden, and Avery — tragically died in a house fire at their home on the 2100 block of Richard Avenue in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 22, 2026. The family’s dog also perished in the blaze. Her husband, Mike Hinrichs, survived. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Where did Jessi Pierce go to college?

Jessi Pierce was a proud graduate of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where she covered multiple sports in print and video during her four years on campus. She remained visibly devoted to Iowa State throughout her life — her colleagues often spotted her in her Iowa State sweatshirt right up until her final days.

What was Jessi Pierce’s podcast?

Jessi co-hosted the Bardown Beauties: A Minnesota Wild & Hockey Podcast alongside Kirsten Krull, produced in partnership with Skor North. The show was popular among Wild fans for its mix of hockey insight, candid conversation, and the chemistry between its two hosts. Krull described Pierce as being like “another big sister” in a tribute posted after her passing.

How long did Jessi Pierce cover the Minnesota Wild?

Jessi Pierce covered the Minnesota Wild for approximately 10 seasons as a contributor to NHL.com — making her one of the longest-tenured and most recognizable faces of Wild coverage in the league’s official media. She also covered the Wild through her work with The Athletic and other platforms, putting her total Wild-focused career at well over a decade.

Did Jessi Pierce have children?

Yes. Jessi and her husband Mike Hinrichs had three children: sons Hudson and Cayden, and daughter Avery. All three children died alongside their mother in the March 2026 house fire. Colleagues remembered Jessi as a fiercely devoted mother who brought her children into her professional world with openness and pride, often bringing her infant to Wild practice in a baby carrier.

🕯️ Conclusion

Jessi Pierce leaves behind a legacy that is difficult to overstate. In a field where access and credibility take years to earn, she built both — and she did it without ever losing the warmth, humor, or humanity that made her extraordinary. She was a journalist, a podcaster, a voice, a friend, and above all, a mother. The Minnesota Wild press box will never quite be the same. The locker room hallways, the rinkside moments, the post-game interviews — all of them carry her memory.

If this tribute to Jessi Pierce moved you, please consider sharing this article with a hockey fan, a fellow journalist, or anyone who deserves to know about the remarkable woman she was. Her story is worth telling — and retelling.