Each Monday, Wild in-game host Kirsten Krull would receive a notification on her phone regarding her upcoming recording session with reporter Jessi Pierce for their “Bardown Beauties” podcast.
As Krull attempts to move forward following Piece’s death in a fatal Minnesota fire this past weekend, she’s keeping that notification on her phone as a way to remember her late friend.
“Logging onto my computer, sitting at my desk with my microphone where we recorded was another hard thing I haven’t yet done but have to continue to do. I know me and so many others are feeling this, it’s cruel that the world doesn’t stop when terrible things happen even when we desperately beg for it to,” Krull posted Monday afternoon to X, two days after Pierce and her three children died. “The world keeps moving even when we feel like we can’t. All we can do is continue to try to move forward the best we can. My heart hurts for everyone today just doing their best to make it through the day.
“But for as long as I can, I’ll keep my Monday podcast record notifications on because it reminds me of how much special time I was able to share with Jessi weekly.”
Krull and the NHL community have been mourning and telling warm stories about Pierce since the tragic fire in White Bear Lake, Minn. on Saturday that killed her and her children, Cayden, Hudson and Avery.
Pierce covered the Wild for NHL.com for the last 10 seasons, along with other NHL reporting experience.
The “Bardown Beauties” podcast she co-hosted with Krull has videos dating back six years and “provides an entertaining, light-hearted deep dive into the Minnesota Wild, while also touching on the NHL at large, the Minnesota Frost of the PWHL and more,” according to their YouTube page.
Spending that much time together both at the rink and behind a mic led to a close relationship in which Krull described the 37-year-old Piece “like another big sister to me.”
Krull posted Sunday a link to a GoFundMe page to help support Pierce’s husband, Mike, that has raised over $204,000, as of Wednesday morning.
“She 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 wrote. “Most importantly, she was the best mom and loved her kids and family fiercely. She brought me into her world and introduced me to her family and friends and I’m so grateful she did. Hudson, Cayden and Avery were the best kids and I’m so grateful she let me be part of their lives. The visits on game days, being able to come to their house and hang out with the family are memories I cherish. There’s not enough pictures, videos, memories I can share in one post. 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.”
Pierce and her three children — ages 4, 6 and 8, per The Minneapolis Star Tribune -— died Saturday morning after a fire broke out at their home.
Police said they received a call Saturday morning from neighbors at 5:26 a.m. after a fire broke out, and the White Bear Lake fire department has ruled out arson at this point.
“We are in the very early stages of the investigation, and our preliminary findings have not led to the any evidence that the fire was set intentionally,” the department wrote in a release Monday. “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.”
