- The Wild and their beat reporters created a yearly award in memory of Jessi Pierce
- Local media will vote on the Wild player who treats the press best
- Read below for what Bill Guerin and the Wild beat writers said about Pierce
Jessi Pierce’s name will be attached to a Minnesota Wild award every season from now on.
The Wild and the team’s local beat reporters announced the Jessi Pierce Media Beauty Award on Monday. It honors the late NHL.com correspondent and her three children, Hudson, Cayden and Avery.
Monday would have been Pierce’s 39th birthday.
Here’s the Wild’s announcement:
Local media will vote on the award each year. The winner is the Wild player who best shows professionalism, accessibility and respect in how he deals with the reporters covering the team.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin spoke about what the award means to the organization.
“This award represents something much bigger than hockey. 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.”
The Wild beat reporters also put out a joint statement on their former colleague.
“Jessi always showed up to the rink eager and excited, engaging everyone with her infectious smile and passion for the sport. She had a knack for asking questions and cultivating stories because she put players and coaches at ease with her curiosity and genuine interest.”
Pierce covered the Wild for NHL.com for 10 seasons. She also co-hosted the “Bardown Beauties” podcast about the team, and her hockey writing ran in USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal and The Athletic.
She died in a house fire in White Bear Lake on March 21, along with her three children.
Minnesota already gave her a permanent seat in the press box back in April. The blankets draped over it are a nod to the one she carried up there every night to stay warm. Take a look at the seat:
Minnesota Hockey is honoring her too. The Jessi Pierce Community Cup runs Dec. 11-13 at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, with every dollar going to the Jessi Pierce Legacy Scholarship Program.
The first Media Beauty winner will be picked by the people who sat next to her in that press box.
