Wisconsin wins preseason debut

Keith Tessin scored twice and added four assists as the Wisconsin Wilderness made their Superior International Junior Hockey League preseason debut a successful one.

Austin Adduono, James Kline and Brian Erickson added a pair of goals apiece as the Wilderness easily knocked off their American expansion compatriots, the Duluth Clydesdales, by a 9-1 count Saturday afternoon.

Nick Szopinsky also scored for Wisconsin, which played an abbreviated SIJHL schedule last year before gaining Hockey USA’s approval, along with Duluth, to join the Canadian-based league full-time in 2010-11.

Dillon Mershon scored the lone goal for Duluth, who was playing its first SIJHL contest.

Also on Saturday the Fort William North Stars will be looking for a two-game sweep of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Portage Terriers.

The defending SIJHL champion Stars got a goal and two assists from Spencer Hogan on Friday night in beating the Terriers 6-4 in their preseason debut. Fort William plays the Winnipeg Blues on Sunday and opens the regular season on Thursday when they visit the Dryden Ice Dogs.

The North Stars don’t play at home until Sept. 29 against Wisconsin.