No. of teams 4 | Founded 1965 | |
 | ||
Venue(s) Little Caesars Arena (beginning in 2017)Joe Louis Arena (1979–2012, 2014–present)Comerica Park (2013)Olympia Stadium (1965–1978) | ||
The Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) is a four-team National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's ice hockey tournament held annually at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit between the Christmas and New Years holidays as part of College Hockey at The Joe. It is scheduled to move to Little Caesars Arena in 2017.
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 and moved into its present home, Joe Louis Arena, in 1979.
Michigan State University is traditionally selected as a third participant while the fourth is a different team each season. Bowling Green State University is scheduled to participate in the 2017 GLI.
The 2012 edition of the invitational was originally scheduled to take place at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on December 27–28. The cancellation of the 2013 NHL Winter Classic meant the NHL would not build the additional rink at Comerica Park, therefore the GLI was moved into Joe Louis Arena where it is traditionally played. Because the lockout prevented 2012's guest, Western Michigan, from playing outdoors at Comerica Park as originally promised, they were invited again in 2013, when the GLI was finally held at Comerica. In a rematch from 2012's Championship game, Western defeated Michigan Tech 1–0 in overtime.
The GLI is scheduled to move to Little Caesars Arena in 2017. Little Caesars Arena will replace Joe Louis Arena as the Red Wings home arena.