Great Lakes Invitational

The Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) is a four-team National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's ice hockey tournament held annually at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, around the New Year's holiday. It was previously held in Detroit as part of College Hockey in the D.

The tournament was born out of a conversation between the general manager of Olympia Stadium, Lincoln Cavalieri, Michigan Tech's long-time coach, John MacInnes, and Detroit Red Wings scout Jack Paterson. The three men were discussing the lack of American-born players in the National Hockey League (NHL) and concluded that a prestigious collegiate tournament could make a difference by promoting interest in hockey among young athletes, as well as the general public. Jack Tompkins, American Airlines vice president, former University of Michigan goalie, and a member of the Detroit Red Wings organization, championed their vision as well, and together in 1965, they founded the Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament.

The GLI has grown into one of the premier college and holiday sporting events in the country,Template:Citation needed originating at Detroit's Olympia Stadium. Michigan Tech, the host for the tournament since its inception, added Michigan as a co-host in 1976.Template:Citation needed The tournament moved into Joe Louis Arena when the Red Wings' new home arena opened in December 1979. In 2017, with the closure of the Joe, the GLI relocated to the new Little Caesars Arena until the 2020–21 season.<ref name="Detroit News">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Michigan State is traditionally selected as a third participant while the fourth is a different team each season. Northern Michigan was scheduled to be the 2020-21 invitee, but the tournament was cancelled.

The 2013 edition of the invitational was held outdoors at Comerica Park, as part of festivities for the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. Western Michigan defeated Michigan Tech 1–0 in overtime.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The outdoor games were originally scheduled for 2012. However, due to the NHL lockout, the Winter Classic and all associated festivities were postponed to 2013–14.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Lakes Invitational was not held in 2020, marking the first year the tournament has not been played since its inception. In 2021, instead of the usual "tournament" format, there was a "showcase" scheduled with four set games (UM-MTU, MSU-WMU, UM-WMU, and MSU-MTU). On December 27, 2021, Michigan cited player health concerns and backed out of the December 30 game against Western Michigan, COVID-19 was not cited as a reason. However, Michigan played their first scheduled game of the tournament vs. Michigan Tech on December 29.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On June 8, 2022, the tournament field for the 2022 tournament was announced. Ferris State, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, and Western Michigan competed at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. This marks the first year Michigan has not played since 1973.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Future GLIs to be held in Grand Rapids include Michigan Tech and Michigan State each year as host schools. 2023 features Ferris State and Alaska. 2024 Western Michigan and Northern Michigan. 2025 Ferris State and Miami of Ohio. 2026 Western Michigan and Notre Dame.

Team records

Team	Titles	Runner-up	Third place	Fourth place	Years participated
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Michigan	17	14	13	6	50
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Michigan State	13	15	14	8	50
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Michigan Tech	12	17	12	16	57
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Western Michigan	4	1	0	1	6
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">North Dakota	2	1	0	1	4
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Lake Superior State	1	1	1	1	4
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Wisconsin	1	1	1	0	3
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Colorado College	1	1	0	1	3
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Boston University	1	0	4	0	5
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Boston College	1	0	3	0	4
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Harvard	1	0	2	2	5
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">New Hampshire	1	0	1	0	2
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Notre Dame	1	0	0	3	4
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Bowling Green	1	0	0	2	3
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Toronto	1	0	0	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Rensselaer	0	2	0	0	2
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Northern Michigan	0	1	3	2	6
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Ferris State	0	1	0	3	4
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Maine	0	1	0	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Ohio State	0	1	0	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Brown	0	0	1	1	2
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Alaska	0	0	1	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Colgate	0	0	1	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Dartmouth	0	0	1	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Providence	0	0	1	0	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Penn	0	0	0	2	2
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Western Ontario	0	0	0	2	2
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Cornell	0	0	0	1	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Princeton	0	0	0	1	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">St. Lawrence	0	0	0	1	1
style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle;"| Template:Ifsubst style="color:#FFFFFF">Yale	0	0	0	1	1

Gallery

• Northern Michigan vs. Michigan State ice hockey 2015 07.jpg

  Michigan State and Northern Michigan before the 2015 consolation game

• Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 06.jpg

  Michigan Tech and Michigan before the 2015 championship game

• Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 25.jpg

  A face-off during the 2015 championship game

• Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 34.jpg

  Michigan with the MacInnes Cup after winning the 2015 GLI

• Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 35.jpg

  Michigan posing with the GLI banner after winning the 2015 tournament