In a tragedy that has stunned the hockey world, veteran NHL.com reporter Jessi Pierce shared what would become her final family photos just one day before she, her three young children, and their dog perished in a devastating house fire.

Pierce, 37, was found dead alongside her children — Hudson, Cayden, and Avery — and the family dog following the fire at their home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on Saturday. The loss has left colleagues, players, and fans reeling, with many turning to her last social-media post as a poignant reminder of life’s fragility.

On Friday, just hours before the tragedy, Pierce took her children to the Cup and Cone, a beloved local ice-cream stand that was celebrating its 53rd opening day. The family joined a line that stretched down the sidewalk, patiently waiting their turn on a perfect spring afternoon. When their order finally arrived, the kids were rewarded with colorful sprinkle-covered cones — classic summer treats that captured pure childhood joy.

In the photos Pierce posted to X (formerly Twitter), her children beamed with delight as they devoured their ice cream. One son balanced a sub sandwich from a neighboring stand, slices of cheese dangling precariously from the end while he took enthusiastic bites. Her daughter and one of the boys wore mismatched socks — a small, endearing detail that spoke to the relaxed, happy chaos of family life. Scuff marks on her daughter’s leggings hinted at a day already filled with outdoor play and laughter.

“bag(s) secured,” Pierce captioned the post, her final words on the platform radiating the quiet satisfaction of a mother who had successfully turned an ordinary errand into a cherished memory.

The National Hockey League confirmed the deaths on Saturday and issued a heartfelt statement:

“The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children,” the NHL said. “Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.”

Pierce had covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com across the last 10 seasons. She previously worked directly for the team and contributed to The Athletic. An Iowa State graduate, she also wrote for USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal, and Massachusetts Hockey, among others. She co-hosted the popular “Bardown Beauties” podcast, where her upbeat personality and deep hockey knowledge shone through every episode.

She is survived by her husband, Mike.

Tributes poured in immediately from across the hockey community, many of them linking directly back to that final snapshot of Pierce and her smiling children. Michael Russo, who covers the Wild for The Athletic, captured the essence of her spirit:

“Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) 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. Jessi simply loved covering the Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend.”

Minnesota Wild Broadcast Engineer Zach Halverson echoed the same sentiment, highlighting the cruel contrast of her final hours:

“From a [Minnesota Wild] practice in the morning to enjoying ice cream with her kids in the afternoon, if there is any solace in this tragedy, it’s that Jessi’s last day was spent doing the things she loved most—covering hockey and being a mom. The rink will never be the same without her smile, her humor, and her passion for the game. There was never a moment that wasn’t made better by her presence.”

The story of Jessi Pierce’s final day — one spent between the hockey rink she adored and the ice-cream stand her children loved — has become a heartbreaking symbol for the entire Minnesota hockey community. In the midst of unimaginable loss, those last photographs serve as both a celebration of a vibrant life cut short and a stark reminder to cherish the ordinary, sprinkle-dusted moments that make family irreplaceable.