50 Moments in GLI History

Each day leading up to 50th Annual Great Lakes Invitational Hockey Tournament, we'll celebrate one of the top 50 moments in GLI history. The 2014 GLI will be played at Joe Louis Arena on Dec. 28-29.



The GLI moved from Olympia Stadium to Joe Louis Arena in 1979. Current Huskies coach Mel Pearson scored the championship-winning goal 2:28 into the third overtime to end the longest game in GLI history in favor of Tech 5-4 over Michigan.

When the current Michigan seniors were freshmen, the Wolverines won a record 15th GLI title in 2011 with a 3-2 overtime win vs. Michigan State.



The GLI was originally played before Christmas. In 1970, it was moved between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Mike Usitalo was the 1970 MVP after putting up three goals and an assist for Michigan Tech in a 7-2 championship game win over Michigan.



The Spartans claimed the 1998 GLI championship – their second in a string of four consecutive titles.



Michigan Tech’s Bruce Horsch tallied 43 saves in a 6-2 semifinal victory over Boston University in 1975. The Huskies were clipped 6-5 in the championship game by Michigan the next night.

Michigan had a record streak of 20 consecutive wins at the GLI between 1987-97. Head coach Red Berenson and the Wolverines won nine GLI titles during that time.

Michigan State’s Mitch Messier registered eight points during the 1986 GLI, setting a record that still stands. The Spartans were the third-place team that year while Western Michigan won the championship.



Michigan’s Billy Sauer became the first goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts in GLI history en route to the 2007 MVP award. He and the Wolverines blanked Providence 6-0 in the semifinal before outlasting Michigan Tech 1-0 in double overtime in title game.



Legendary Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes led Tech to nine GLI titles between the tournament’s inception in 1965 and his retirement following the 1981-82 season. MacInnes won 555 career games including 26 at the GLI. He holds the GLI record for winning percentage (10 games or more) at .765 (26-8).



10 days away from 50th GLI. Mike Zuke scored two third period goals for Michigan Tech to defeat Michigan 3-2 in the title game of the 10th annual GLI.  The Huskies went on to win their third NCAA Championship that season behind Zuke, who was one of five players in NCAA history to record 300 career points (310).



Michigan posted the most-ever goals in a GLI game when it shutout Michigan State 13-0 in a 1994 semifinal game. Mike Legg had three of the Wolverines’ 13 goals.



Three coaches brought two different teams to the GLI: Ron Mason (Bowling Green 1976 and Michigan State 1979-2002), Rick Comley (Northern Michigan 1983-98 and Michigan State 2002-10) and Jerry York (Bowling Green 1984 and Boston College 2000-11). Mason had the most success of the three, going a combined 28-19-1 in 24 appearances.



Michigan Tech won 11 consecutive GLI games between 1976-81. The Huskies claimed five straight titles (1976-80) before Notre Dame finally ended the run with a 4-3 championship game win in 1981.

The Spartans celebrate the 1984 GLI title. The title was their third in a run of four straight from 1982-85.



The 1988 GLI saw Michigan put together perhaps the biggest comeback in GLI history. The Wolverines scored four goals in the third period to tie North Dakota, then claimed th championship 6-5 on a Mike Moes goal 4:03 into the second overtime.



Michigan State’s Daryl Rice put up the GLI records for assists in a game (six in a 12-5 win vs. Boston College in the semifinal) and tournament (seven). The Spartans defeated Michigan Tech 5-4 in the title game.



Michigan Tech won it's first GLI title in 1968 with a 4-1 victory over Wisconsin. Gordon McRae was the winning goaltender for the Huskies.



Michigan has won four GLI titles with overtime game winners, including Kevin Clare's OT game-winning goal against Michigan State in 2011.



Michigan State first played in the GLI in 1966, but didn’t become an annual participant until the 1979 tournament. The Spartans have played in each of the last 35 GLIs.



20 days away from 50th GLI. Michigan State claimed the 20th GLI by shutting out Michigan Tech in the championship 7-0. Goalie Bob Essensa earns GLI MVP honors after a 24-save shutout in the title game.



Phoenix Copley shutout both Michigan and Western Michigan by identical 4-0 scores to help Michigan Tech win its first GLI in 32 years in 2012.



Red Berenson (pictured), John MacInnes, Ron Mason, Jack Parker, Jerry York, Jeff Sauer and many other great college hockey coaches brought their teams to the GLI. Berenson holds the GLI records for most games coached (60), wins (41) and titles (13).

 

Blake Pietila is one of 11 Michigan natives on the Michigan Tech roster. The 50th GLI field will feature all Michigan teams for the third straight year with Michigan Tech, Michigan, Michigan State and Ferris State.



and Nick Sucharski helped lead Michigan State to the 2009 GLI title.



The 25th GLI title game saw Michigan defeat Michigan State, 6-3, with U-M goaltender Warren Sharples earning MVP honors.



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In 1966, Michigan's first year in the GLI, the Wolverines beat Michigan State, 5-3, for the first of 15 titles.



Steve Coates’ goal 4:46 into the second overtime lifted Michigan Tech to a 5-4 victory over Boston University in a 1972 semifinal contest. Harvard wound up winning the title the next day by a 4-2 score.



The Spartans celebrate their 2000 GLI title, their fourth consecutive.



In 1994, Michigan defeated Michigan State, 5-4, in the title game of the 30th GLI on Bill Muckalt's game-winner.



Michigan State won the 1982 GLI by a 5-3 score over MTU.



In 1974, Michigan became a permanent fixture at the GLI. Robbie Moore was named to the All-Tournament Team that year.



Michigan Tech student Kyle Reininger, from Mt. Clemens, Mich., was the GLI’s one-millionth fan on Dec. 30, 1999. With at least three Michigan teams playing in the storied tournament each year, the GLI continues to be the top college hockey holiday tournament in the nation.



Daryl Rice had seven assists in the 1973 GLI, helping Michigan State to the title.



Michigan Tech’s Michael-Lee Teslak posted a GLI record 57 saves in a 2005 semifinal game vs. Michigan State. The Spartans defeated the Huskies 3-2 in overtime.



Brendan Morrison won three consecutive GLI MVP awards from 1994-96 while helping Michigan to titles each year. Morrison went on to win the Hobey Baker Award in 1996-97.



Michigan Tech handed Boston University its first loss (6-4) of the 1978-79 season with a semifinal win at the GLI in 1978. Goaltender John Rockwell went on to earn tournament MVP honors after the Huskies defeated Ohio State 7-4 in the title game.



Six different players are tied for the GLI tournament record of five goals. Two of those are Michigan State players Steve Colp (pictured, 1973) and Bill Watt (1969).



Michigan’s Louie Caporusso netted a natural hat trick in the first 12:04 of a 5-0 semifinal victory over Michigan Tech in 2008. He went on to earn tournament MVP honors that year.



The Spartans won the 40th GLI by downing U-M, 2-1, courtesy of an OT goal by Colton Fretter.

 

Michigan Tech’s Tyler Shelast scored nine goals and 10 total points in eight career games at the GLI between 2004-07. The Huskies’ current strength and conditioning coach was twice named to the GLI All-Tournament Team. Shelast scored twice against Michigan State in the 2005 GLI (video).

 

Mike Weaver was named MVP of the 1997 GLI as Michigan State topped Michigan for the title.



Comerica Park hosted the 2013 GLI, becoming the third-ever site for the tournament and the first outdoor games in tournament history. Western Michigan defeated Michigan Tech 1-0 in overtime to claim the title.


Mike Lauen scored the overtime game winner for Michigan Tech in 1980 to help the Huskies defeat Michigan in extra time in the GLI championship for the second straight year. The win also made it five straight GLI titles for Tech.



In the 1966 GLI, Michigan's first, Mel Wakabayashi earned the John MacInnes Trophy (MVP) as Michigan beat Michigan Tech and Michigan State for the title.



There have been two shootouts since the GLI instituted the tiebreaker for all games except the championship in 2006. Both happened in the semifinals. Western Michigan advanced past Michigan State 1-0 in 2012. Michigan Tech advanced past Michigan State 2-1 in 2013 (video).

Ryan Miller was named MVP of the 2000 GLI as #1 MSU topped #2 BC, 4-1, & then beat MTU, 3-2, for the title. Video from the 2000 GLI

 

Michigan’s Steve Shields won back-to-back GLI MVPs helping the Wolverines to titles in 1990 and 1991. Shields surrendered only one goal per game in the four wins.



Despite two goals from future Michigan Tech athletic director Rick Yeo, Toronto defeats the Huskies 6-2 to win the first edition of the GLI.

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