The brother of late NHL reporter Jessi Pierce paid a subtle tribute to his sister after she and her three young children died in a house fire.
Nick Pierce posted a photo of himself and Jessi via Facebook on Sunday, March 22, showing the siblings with their backs to the camera and their last name written across their shirts.
Jessi and her three kids — sons Hudson, 8, and Cayden, 6, and daughter Avery, 4 — were all killed when their single-family home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, caught on fire on Saturday, March 21. Jessi was 37 years old. The family’s dog also died in the tragedy.
Friends of the Pierce family offered their condolences on Nick’s social media post.
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“Love you, Nick! You both are incredible people,” one person commented. “Thinking of you always and forever.”
Another wrote, “We’re so incredibly sorry for your loss Nick. You and your family are in our thoughts during this unimaginable time.”
The White Bear Lake Fire Department issued an update about the fire on Monday, March 23, saying that arson is not suspected.
“Our priorities are, first and foremost, being present for those directly affected by this tragedy, conducting a thorough investigation, and ensuring our first responders involved in this incident heal alongside the community,” the department said in a statement.
Jessi’s husband, Mike Hinrichs, was on a business trip at the time of the fire.
A GoFundMe was established to “cover funeral expenses and to provide financial support for the family during this period of grief.”
The fundraiser has collected over $200,000 at the time of this story’s publication, including $10,000 donations from both the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Wild, who Jessi covered for years, said the organization was “heartbroken” by her sudden death.
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“Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her,” the team said in a statement on Sunday. “She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time 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.”
Jessi also cohosted the “Bardown Beauties” podcast with Wild in-arena host Kirsten Krull, who said Jessi had “an unmatched work ethic and a huge heart.”
“Any time I needed help, needed to rant, or needed someone she was there without hesitation,” Krull shared via Instagram on Monday. “Most importantly, she was the best mom and loved her kids and family fiercely.”
She added, “There’s so much more I want to say that I can’t find the words for yet. I hope you know how loved you are and could see the outpouring of love for you and your family from the hockey community today. I hope you know how much I love you and how missed you will be. Thank you for everything.”
