Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children found dead in house fire, NHL says | Minnesota

NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children died Saturday in a weekend house fire in Minnesota, the league’s sports website announced Sunday.

Pierce, 37, has been covering the Minnesota Wild as an NHL.com reporter for the past decade.

“The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jessi and her children,” Bill Price, vice president and editor-in-chief of NHL.com, said in a statement.

“Jessi’s love for her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to the work she did for us. She was an absolute joy to talk to and work with. We will miss her so much.”

Firefighters responded to a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Saturday morning. Neighbors called 911 and reported flames coming from the roof.

The White Bear Lake Fire Department said firefighters found an adult, three children and a dog inside the home, all dead. The ministry did not disclose the names of the victims in its statement on Saturday.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

“Our hearts hurt for those involved in this tragedy. We ask for the opportunity to allow our community to come together and support each other during this difficult time,” White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson said in a statement.

The Minnesota Wild mourned his loss on social media Sunday.

“Jessi was a kind, compassionate person who 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 NHL,” the social media post said.

Minnesota is known as the “Hockey State” and the Wild have had one of the largest fan bases since their founding in 2000. The North Stars moved to Dallas to become the Stars in the early 1990s.