Lakers take Bill Salonen Cup opener

The Wisconsin Wilderness got the best of the Fort Frances Lakers in the regular season, but the playoffs are a different story altogether.

The Lakers, who took the second half of the 1-2 playoff series last month to earn their choice of semifinal opponents, opened the Bill Salonen Cup final in winning style, doubling the Wilderness 4-2 on Sunday night to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.

Henry Gutierrez netted a pair for Fort Frances, seeking to upend the defending Superior International Junior Hockey League champions and earn a berth in the Dudley Hewitt Cup, scheduled to start in Thunder Bay on April 17.

Alex Bruess and Byron Katapaytuk, into the empty net at Spooner, Wisc.'s Northwest Sports Complex, also scored for the Lakers.
Mike Dietrich and Patrick Hurley were the Wisconsin goal scorers.

The two teams will play Game 2 on Monday night.