The Great Lakes Invitational
The Great Lakes Invitational Tournament continues to be the top holiday tournament in the country. Many have challenged the GLI’s stature, but none has matched its continued success.
This year’s 58th annual tournament will be staged for the third time at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, with Northern Michigan and Western Michigan joining Michigan Tech and Michigan State.
The tournament was born out of a conversation between then-general manager of Olympia Stadium Lincoln Cavalieri, Michigan Tech’s legendary coach John J. MacInnes, 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, 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.
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 the Joe Louis Arena in 1979 and Little Caesars Arena in 2018. A tournament wasn’t held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 event was a showcase with Michigan Tech playing at Michigan and Michigan State. The Spartans also hosted Western Michigan. The 2022 tournament didn’t include Michigan for the first time since 1973 and moved west to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids where Western Michigan took home its fourth title. Alaska will make its debut at the 2023 tournament where Tech took home the title after a shootout win over Michigan State after a 3-3 tie.
The GLI field is set for the next three with Miami and Ferris State in 2025, and Western Michigan and Notre Dame in 2026.
As for attendance, the GLI is unmatched among college hockey holiday tournaments. In 1999, the GLI went over the one-million mark in total attendance.
Full GLI Record Book in PDF (including year-by-year results and all-tournament teams)
GLI Champions
Year • Team • Coach
2023 • Michigan Tech • Joe Shawhan
2022 • Western Michigan • Pat Ferschweiler
2021 • No Tournament
2020 • No Tournament
2019 • Michigan Tech • Joe Shawhan
2018 • Lake Superior State • Damon Whitten
2017 • Bowling Green • Chris Bergeron
2016 • Western Michigan • Andy Murray
2015 • Michigan • Red Berenson
2014 • Michigan • Red Berenson
2013 • Western Michigan • Andy Murray
2012 • Michigan Tech • Mel Pearson
2011 • Michigan • Red Berenson
2010 • Michigan • Red Berenson
2009 • Michigan State • Rick Comley
2008 • Michigan • Red Berenson
2007 • Michigan • Red Berenson
2006 • Michigan State • Rick Comley
2005 • Colorado College • Scott Owens
2004 • Michigan State • Rick Comley
2003 • Boston College • Jerry York
2002 • Boston University • Jack Parker
2001 • North Dakota • Dean Blais
2000 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1999 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1998 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1997 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1996 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1995 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1994 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1993 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1992 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1991 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1990 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1989 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1988 • Michigan • Red Berenson
1987 • Wisconsin • Jeff Sauer
1986 • Western Michigan • Bill Wilkinson
1985 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1984 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1983 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1982 • Michigan State • Ron Mason
1981 • Notre Dame • Lefty Smith
1980 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1979 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1978 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1977 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1976 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1975 • Michigan • Dan Farrell
1974 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1973 • Michigan State • Amo Bessone
1972 • Harvard • Bill Cleary
1971 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1970 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1969 • New Hampshire • Rube Bjorkman
1968 • Michigan Tech • John MacInnes
1967 • North Dakota • Bill Selman
1966 • Michigan • Al Renfrew
1965 • Toronto • Tom Watt
John MacInnes Trophy (GLI MVP)
Named after Michigan Tech’s legendary coach, the John MacInnes Trophy is awarded at the conclusion of the Great Lakes Invitational to a player for his play in the tournament.
Past winners include Hobey Baker winner Brendan Morrison from Michigan — who was the only player to receive the honor three times, NHL veteran Bob Essensa formerly of Michigan State and Michigan Tech standout Greg Hay.
The last two Michigan Tech MVPs earned the honor after netting a hat trick in the championship game with Jack Works in 2023 and Logan Pietila in 2019. Pheonix Copley earned the 2012 hardware after posting back-to-back shutouts for the Huskies. Kyle Connor was Michigan’s last MVP. The last time someone in Michigan State green hoisted the trophy came back in 2009 courtesy of Brett Perlini.
Five players were named MVP after their team did not win the tournament title, and twice the MVP did not even play in the championship team.
Year • Player • School
2023 • Jack Works • Michigan Tech
2022 • Jason Polin • Western Michigan
2021 • No Tournament
2020 • No Tournament
2019 • Logan Pietila • Michigan Tech
2018 • Diego Cuglietta • Lake Superior State
2017 • Lukas Craggs • Bowling Green
2016 • Colt Conrad • Western Michigan
2015 • Kyle Connor • Michigan
2014 • Steve Racine • Michigan
2013 • Lukas Hafner • Western Michigan
2012 • Pheonix Copley • Michigan Tech
2011 • Kevin Clare • Michigan
2010 • Luke Glendening • Michigan
2009 • Brett Perlini • Michigan State
2008 • Louie Caporusso • Michigan
2007 • Billy Sauer • Michigan
2006 • Bryan Lerg • Michigan State
2005 • Joey Crabb • Colorado College
2004 • Jim Slater • Michigan State
2003 • Joe Pearce • Boston College
2002 • Sean Fields • Boston University
2001 • Tim Skarperud • North Dakota
2000 • Ryan Miller • Michigan State
1999 • Shawn Horcoff • Michigan State
1998 • Mike Gresl • Michigan State
1997 • Mike Weaver • Michigan State
1996 • Brendan Morrison • Michigan
1995 • Brendan Morrison • Michigan
1994 • Brendan Morrison • Michigan
1993 • David Oliver • Michigan
1992 • Cam Stewart • Michigan
1991 • Steve Shields • Michigan
1990 • Steve Shields • Michigan
1989 • Warren Sharples • Michigan
1988 • Todd Brost • Michigan
1987 • Dean Anderson • Wisconsin
1986 • Bill Horn • Western Michigan
1985 • Don McSween • Michigan State
1984 • Bob Essensa • Michigan State
1983 • Dan McFall • Michigan State
1982 • Dale Krentz • Michigan State
1981 • Dave Laurion • Notre Dame
1980 • Paul Fricker • Michigan
1979 • Murray Eaves • Michigan
1978 • John Rockwell • Michigan Tech
1977 • Dave Joelson • Michigan Tech
1976 • Greg Hay • Michigan Tech
1975 • Stu Ostlund • Michigan Tech
1974 • Robbie Moore • Michigan
1973 • Tom Ross • Michigan State
1972 • Dave Haynes • Harvard
1971 • Ian Williams • Notre Dame
1970 • Mike Usitalo • Michigan Tech
1969 • Larry Smith • New Hampshire
1968 • Bill Watt • Michigan State
1967 • Roger Bamburak • North Dakota
1966 • Mel Wakabayashi • Michigan
1965 • Henry Monteith • Toronto
GLI Team Records
|
School |
Overall |
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
|
Alaska |
1-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Boston College |
5-3 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Boston University |
6-4 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Bowling Green |
2-4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Brown |
1-3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Colgate |
1-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Colorado College |
3-3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Cornell |
0-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Dartmouth |
1-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ferris State |
1-7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
Harvard |
4-6 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Lake Superior State |
4-4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Maine |
1-1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Michigan |
60-38-2 |
17 |
14 |
10 |
4 |
|
Michigan State |
50-41-5 |
12 |
15 |
14 |
8 |
|
Michigan Tech |
40-61-3 |
12 |
17 |
12 |
16 |
|
New Hampshire |
3-1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
North Dakota |
5-3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Northern Michigan |
4-8 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
Notre Dame |
2-6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Ohio State |
1-1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pennsylvania |
0-4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Princeton |
0-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Providence |
1-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
RPI |
2-2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
St. Lawrence |
0-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Toronto |
2-0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Western Michigan |
8-3-1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Western Ontario |
0-4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Wisconsin |
4-2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Yale |
0-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
GLI Coaching Records
Coach • School • Years Participated • Overall Record
Abbott, Leon • Boston University • 1972 • 1-1
Addesa, Mike • RPI • 1985 • 1-1
Anastos, Tom • Michigan State • 2011-2016 • 3-7-2
Appert, Seth • RPI • 2009 • 1-1
Army, Tim • Providence • 2007 • 1-1
Berenson, Red • Michigan • 1984-2016 • 46-20
Bergeron, Chris • Bowling Green • 2018 • 2-0
Bessone, Amo • Michigan State • 1965-1979 • 6-4
Bjorkman, Rube • New Hampshire • 1969 • 2-0
Blais, Dean • North Dakota • 2001 • 2-0
Borek, Scott • Lake Superior State • 1996, 1999 • 1-3
Boxer, Herb • Michigan Tech • 1985-1991 • 1-9
Brown, Newell • Michigan Tech • 1991-1993 • 2-2
Ceglarski, Len • Boston College • 1973 • 1-1
Cole, Danton • Michigan State • 2018-2019 • 1-4-1
Comley, Rick • Michigan State • 2002-2010 • 11-7
Comley, Rick • Northern Michigan • 1983, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998 • 3-7
Cleary, Bill • Harvard • 1972, 1980 • 2-2
Crocker, Robert • Pennsylvania • 1973, 1975 • 0-4
Daniels, Bob • Ferris State • 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023 • 1-7
Farrell, Dan • Michigan • 1974-1979 • 6-6
Ferschweiler, Pat • Western Michigan • 2022 • 2-0
Gasparini, John • North Dakota • 1988 • 1-1
Giordano, John • Michigan • 1981-1984 • 1-4-1
Hakstol, Dave • North Dakota • 2008 • 0-2
Johnson, Bob • Colorado College • 1965 • 0-2
Kane, Justice Joseph • Toronto • 1965 • 2-0
Kelley, Jack • Boston University • 1965 • 1-1
Kyle, Walt • Northern Michigan • 2015 • 1-1
Largen, Erick • Alaska • 2023 • 1-1
Lufkin, Paul • Yale • 1974 • 0-2
MacInnes, John • Michigan Tech • 1965-1982 • 26-8
Mancini, Bob • Michigan Tech • 1993-1997 • 3-5
Martin, Wilf • Michigan • 1980 • 1-1
Marsh, Joe • St. Lawrence • 1997 • 0-2
Mason, Ron • Bowling Green • 1976 • 0-2
Mason, Ron • Michigan State • 1979-2002 • 28-17-1
McCutcheon, Brian • Cornell • 1994 • 0-2
Murray, Andy • Western Michigan • 2012 • 3-1-2
Nahrgang, Jim • Michigan Tech • 1982-1985 • 3-3
Neal, Bill • Western Michigan • 1977 • 0-2
Nightingale, Adam • Michigan State • 2022-2023 • 1-3
Owens, Scott • Colorado College • 2005, 2010 • 3-1
Parker, Jack • Boston University • 1975, 1978, 2002 • 4-2
Pearson, Mel • Michigan Tech • 2011-2016 • 5-6-`
Pearson, Mel • Michigan • 2017-2018• 2-2-2
Quackenbush, H.G. • Princeton • 1969 • 0-2
Renfrew, Al • Michigan • 1966-1974 • 4-4
Russell, Jamie • Michigan Tech • 2004-2010 • 2-14
Ryan, Ron • Colgate • 1970 • 1-1
Sauer, Jeff • Wisconsin • 1987 • 2-0
Schafer, Ric • Notre Dame • 1993 • 0-2
Selmen, Bill • North Dakota • 1967 • 2-0
Sertich, Mike • Michigan Tech • 2002-2004 • 0-4
Shawhan, Joe • Michigan Tech • 2017-present • 5-3-2
Smith, Lefty • Notre Dame • 1971, 1981, 1982 • 2-4
Soares, J. Allan • Brown • 1970 • 0-2
Standbrook, Grant • Dartmouth • 1971 • 1-1
Toomey, Richard • Brown • 1976 • 1-1
Umile, Dick • New Hampshire • 2004 • 1-1
Walsh, Shawn • Maine • 1990 • 1-1
Watters, Tim • Michigan Tech • 1997-2002 • 3-7
Welsh, Jerry • Ohio State • 1978 • 1-1
Whitten, Damon • Lake Superior State • 2018 • 2-0
Wilkinson, Bill • Western Michigan • 1986 • 2-0
Yeo, Rick • Lake Superior State • 1977 • 1-1
York, Jerry • Boston College • 2000, 2003, 2011 • 4-2
York, Jerry • Bowling Green • 1984 • 0-2
GLI Record Book
Single Game Records
Most Goals
Individual: 5, Mark Jooris (RPI) vs. Michigan, 1985; Paul O’Neil (Boston University) vs. Michigan, 1972; Ian Williams (Notre Dame) vs. Dartmouth, 1971
Team: 13, Michigan vs. Michigan Tech, 1994
Most Assists
Individual: 6, Daryl Rice (Michigan State) vs. Boston College, 1973
Team: 22, Michigan State vs. Boston College, 1973; Michigan vs. Bowling Green, 1984
Most Points
Individual: 7, Mark Jooris (RPI) vs. Michigan, 1985
Team: 34, Michigan State vs. Boston College, 1973; Michigan vs. Bowling Green
Most Penalties
Individual: 6, Ron Rolston (Michigan Tech) vs. Michigan State, 1988
Team: 26, Michigan Tech vs. Michigan State, 1988
Most Penalty Minutes
Individual: 16, John Grisdale (Michigan Tech) vs. Princeton, 1969
Team: 69, Michigan Tech vs. Michigan State, 1988
Most Shots on Goal
Team: 58, Michigan Tech vs. Colgate, 1970
Most Goals Allowed
Individual: 13, Luciano Caravaggio (Michigan Tech) vs. Michigan, 1994
Most Saves
Individual: 57, Michael Lee-Teslak (Michigan Tech) vs. Michigan State, 2005
GLI Two Game Tournament Records
Most Goals
Individual: 6, Jason Polin (Western Michigan) 2022
Team: 18, Michigan Tech, 1970; Michigan, 1994
Most Assists
Individual: 7, Daryl Rice (Michigan State), 1973
Team: 31, Michigan State, 1973
Most Points
Individual: 8, Mitch Messier (Michigan State), 1986
Team: 48, Michigan Tech, 1970; Michigan State, 1973
Most Penalties
Individual: 7, Ron Rolston (Michigan Tech), 1988
Team: 34, Michigan Tech, 1988
Most Penalty Minutes
Individual: 20, John Grisdale (Michigan Tech), 1969
Team: 85, Michigan Tech, 1988
Most Goals Allowed
Individual: 16, Bill Howard (Colorado College), 1965; Luciano Caravaggio (Michigan Tech), 1994
Team: 21, Notre Dame, 1982
Fewest Goals Allowed
Individual: 0 Billy Sauer (Michigan), 2007; Pheonix Copley (Michigan Tech), 2012
Team: 0, Michigan, 2007; Michigan Tech, 2012
Most Saves
Individual: 89, Geoff McMullen (Colgate), 1970
Fewest Goals Scored
Team: 1, Western Michigan, 2012; Michigan, 2013
Most Shots on Goal
99, Michigan Tech, 1970; Michigan State, 1985
Attendance
Overall:
First Night Record Second Night Record
25,449 (2013) 26,052 (2013)
Two Night Record
51,501 (2013)
Indoor:
First Night Record Second Night Record
19,620 (1988) 21,576 (1984)
Two Night Record
41,123 (1984)
GLI Coaching Records
Most Wins
46, Red Berenson, Michigan (1984-2017)
Best Winning Percentage (Overall)
1.000 (2-0), Justice Joseph Kane, Toronto (1965); Bill Selman, North Dakota (1967); Rube Bjorkman, New Hampshire (1969); Bill Wilkinson, Western Michigan (1986); Dean Blais, North Dakota (2001), Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan (2022)
Best Winning Percentage (10 or more games coached)
.765 (26-8), John MacInnes, Michigan Tech (1965-1982)