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 Little Caesars Arena in Detroit around the New Year's holiday 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, originating at Detroit's Olympia Stadium. Michigan Tech, the host for the tournament since its inception, added Michigan as a co-host in 1976. 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 at least the 2020-21 season.
Michigan State University is traditionally selected as a third participant while the fourth is a different team each season. Northern Michigan University 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. 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.
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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game between Western Michigan and Michigan was cancelled, as a result no tournament winner was announced.
==Yearly results==
Season	Champion 	Runner-up 	Third place 	Fourth place 	Jack Tompkins Trophy (MVP)
2021 	Michigan / Michigan State / Michigan Tech / Western Michigan	Michigan / Michigan State / Michigan Tech / Western Michigan	Michigan / Michigan State / Michigan Tech / Western Michigan	Michigan / Michigan State / Michigan Tech / Western Michigan	Michigan / Michigan State / Michigan Tech / Western Michigan
2020 	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 	 	 	 	 	Logan Pietila, MTU
2018 	 	 	Michigan, Michigan State 	Michigan, Michigan State 	Diego Cuglietta, LSSU
2017 	 	 	 	 	Lukas Craggs, BGSU
2016 	 	 	 	 	Colt Conrad, WMU
2015 	 	 	 	 	Kyle Connor, UM
2014 	 	 	 	 	Steve Racine, UM
2013 	 	 	 	 	Lukas Hafner, WMU
2012 	 	 	 	 	Pheonix Copley, MTU
2011 	 	 	 	 	Kevin Clare, UM
2010 	 	 	 	 	Luke Glendening, UM
2009 	 	 	 	 	Brett Perlini, MSU
2008 	 	 	 	 	Louie Caporusso, UM
2007 	 	 	 	 	Billy Sauer, UM
2006 	 	 	 	 	Bryan Lerg, MSU
2005 	 	 	 	 	Joey Crabb, CC
2004 	 	 	 	 	Jim Slater, MSU
2003 	 	 	 	 	Joe Pearce, BC
2002 	 	 	 	 	Sean Fields, BU
2001 	 	 	 	 	Tim Skarperud, UND
2000 	 	 	 	 	Ryan Miller, MSU
1999 	 	 	 	 	Shawn Horcoff, MSU
1998 	 	 	 	 	Mike Gresl, MSU
1997 	 	 	 	 	Mike Weaver, MSU
1996 	 	 	 	 	Brendan Morrison, UM
1995 	 	 	 	 	Brendan Morrison, UM
1994 	 	 	 	 	Brendan Morrison, UM
1993 	 	 	 	 	David Oliver, UM
1992 	 	 	 	 	Cam Stewart, UM
1991 	 	 	 	 	Steve Shields, UM
1990 	 	 	 	 	Steve Shields, UM
1989 	 	 	 	 	Warren Sharples, UM
1988 	 	 	 	 	Todd Brost, UM
1987 	 	 	 	 	Dean Anderson, UW
1986 	 	 	 	 	Bill Horn, WMU
1985 	 	 	 	 	Don McSween, MSU
1984 	 	 	 	 	Bob Essensa, MSU
1983 	 	 	 	 	Dan McFall, MSU
1982 	 	 	 	 	Dale Krentz, MSU
1981 	 	 	Michigan, Michigan State 	Michigan, Michigan State 	Dave Laurion, ND
1980 	 	 	 	 	Paul Fricker, UM
1979 	 	 	 	 	Murray Eaves, UM
1978 	 	 	 	 	John Rockwell, MTU
1977 	 	 	 	 	Dave Joelson, MTU
1976 	 	 	 	 	Greg Hay, MTU
1975 	 	 	 	 	Stu Ostlund, MTU
1974 	 	 	 	 	Robbie Moore, UM
1973 	 	 	 	 	Tom Ross, MSU
1972 	 	 	 	 	Dave Hynes, Har
1971 	 	 	 	 	Ian Williams, ND
1970 	 	 	 	 	Mike Usitalo, MTU
1969 	 	 	 	 	Larry Smith, UNH
1968 	 	 	 	 	Bill Watt, MSU
1967 	 	 	 	 	Roger Bamburak, UND
1966 	 	 	 	 	Mel Wakabayashi, UM
1965 	 	 	 	 	Henry Monteith, UT
==Team records==
Team	Titles	Runner-up	Third place	Fourth place	Years participated
 	17 	14 	13 	6 	50
 	12 	14 	14 	7 	47
 	11 	17 	11 	16 	55
 	3 	1 	0 	1 	5
 	2 	1 	0 	1 	4
 	1 	1 	1 	1 	4
 	1 	1 	1 	0 	3
 	1 	1 	0 	1 	3
 	1 	0 	4 	0 	5
 	1 	0 	3 	0 	4
 	1 	0 	2 	2 	5
 	1 	0 	1 	0 	2
 	1 	0 	0 	3 	4
 	1 	0 	0 	2 	3
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	1
 	0 	2 	0 	0 	2
 	0 	1 	3 	2 	6
 	0 	1 	0 	0 	1
 	0 	1 	0 	0 	1
 	0 	0 	1 	1 	2
 	0 	0 	1 	0 	1
 	0 	0 	1 	0 	1
 	0 	0 	1 	0 	1
 	0 	0 	0 	2 	2
 	0 	0 	0 	2 	2
 	0 	0 	0 	2 	2
 	0 	0 	0 	1 	1
 	0 	0 	0 	1 	1
 	0 	0 	0 	1 	1
 	0 	0 	0 	1 	1
==Gallery==
File:Northern Michigan vs. Michigan State ice hockey 2015 07.jpg|Michigan State and Northern Michigan before the 2015 consolation game
File:Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 06.jpg|Michigan Tech and Michigan before the 2015 championship game
File:Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 25.jpg|A face-off during the 2015 championship game
File:Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 34.jpg|Michigan with the MacInnes Cup after winning the 2015 GLI
File:Michigan vs. Michigan Tech ice hockey 2015 35.jpg|Michigan posing with the GLI banner after winning the 2015 tournament
File:GreatLakesInv.jpg| 
==References==
Category:College ice hockey tournaments in the United States
Category:Ice hockey in Detroit
Category:Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey
Category:Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey
Category:Michigan State Spartans ice hockey