The demise of the GLI is at hand.

Submitted by ckersh74 on July 23rd, 2021 at 2:20 PM

https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/7/23/ice-hockey-great-lakes-invitational-to-be-showcase-event-at-yost-msu.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3WtUarfLoLpNseeHzIWY3a-EQsUnE5XhCzxrqGY-IQwzwAp-jOzEYbn5U
 

Sorry about the formatting. But the GLI as we knew it is toast.

lhglrkwg

July 23rd, 2021 at 2:28 PM ^

Kind of a bummer since it was such a longstanding tournament, but it's not like it was a sell out must-see event.

Maybe we can grow this 'showcase' of Michigan schools into a state of Michigan tournament one day. I can dream...

Sambojangles

July 23rd, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^

I wonder if the (lack of) availability of LCA is what's driving this. While the GLI was played at Joe Louis, they just had to make sure the Wings didn't play for a couple days. Now, they have the Pistons to deal with plus concerts and other events that JLA didn't. It wouldn't surprise me if the LCA operators decided college hockey couldn't make enough back compared to other uses of the building. I'm sure Tech pushed for it; not sure Michigan and MSU did (since they now get two home games to host). 

Once again, the best idea is to expand the tournament to 8 teams, play 3 or 6 games on campus (two groups of 4) and have semis and finals in Detroit. There are 7 hockey teams in Michigan, you could rotate the last invite among teams in Ohio, Notre Dame, or Minnesota. It would be much more fun, and drive better ticket sales than random non-conference games at Yost in November against East Coast schools nobody has ever heard of.

I Just Blue Myself

July 23rd, 2021 at 8:20 PM ^

I have to admit, hockey is the one sport where I want to see us and MSU dominant. When both teams are ranked in the top 5, or even 3, nothing is better. MSU being in the dumpster and us being below our standard…takes the fun away for sure. 
 

A top 5 battle for the GLI title at The Joe was peak hockey for me. 

redhed

July 25th, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^

One up-vote for you.  I hate Sparty like poison, but GLI Championship games with Red Berenson and Ron Mason were some of the most entertaining and intense hockey I have ever seen.  Nothing but respect for Mason and what he did there.  We'll be back, but for some reason MSU doesn't care about hockey anymore, and a once great rivalry is a shadow of what it should be.