The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with media members who cover the NHL team, announced the launch of the Jessi Pierce Media Beauty Award on Monday.
The award honors the memory of Pierce and her three children, Hudson, Cayden, and Avery, who died in a house fire in March.
Pierce, a Wild correspondent for NHL.com, would have turned 39 on Monday.
Wild media members will vote on the award, which is presented annually to the player who exemplifies professionalism, accessibility, and respect in their engagement with the local media.
“This award represents something much bigger than hockey,” said Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin. “It honors the memory of Jessi and her children, and the positive impact she had on everyone she worked with. The warmth, kindness, and generosity she brought to the rink left a lasting impression on our hockey community, and we are honored to carry her legacy forward by recognizing those who embody that same spirit.”
“Jessi always showed up to the rink eager and excited, engaging everyone with her infectious smile and passion for the sport,” read a statement on behalf of the Minnesota Wild beat reporters. “She had a knack for asking questions and cultivating stories because she put players and coaches at ease with her curiosity and genuine interest. We feel her absence daily, and this award will be a reminder of the rapport she had that is essential to covering the Wild and keeping the State of Hockey informed, which she loved doing.”
A contributor to NHL.com for 10 years, Pierce was a fixture in the Minnesota sports scene. Along with her work covering the NHL team, she co-hosted the Bardown Beauties podcast about the Wild and appeared on a Minnesota Vikings podcast. Her work had appeared in various outlets, including the Minnesota Hockey Journal, Massachusetts Hockey, and The Athletic.
Earlier this month, Minnesota fire safety officials determined that the tragic fire was accidental and caused by overheating electrical equipment in an office.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.