The Great Lakes Hockey League (GLHL) is a semi-professional ice hockey league that is affiliated with USA Hockey. Players must be at least 18 years of age and most have previous NCAA College, Junior A, or Professional hockey experience. There are currently 11 teams in the league. The teams are all based in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Each team plays two games against every other team in the league.
Great Lakes Hockey League | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937 |
| First season | 1937-38 |
| Commissioner | Pete Krueger |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Fond du Lac Bears (2024) |
| Official website | theglhl |
History
editThe league was formed in 1937 as the Badger State Hockey League.
The 1998-99 Portage Lake Pioneers hold the record for best regular season at 25–1. They also went undefeated in the playoffs and national championships.
GLHL added a tenth team in the Marquette Iron Rangers, who began play during the 2015–16 season.[1] The club played just one season, before they were replaced by the Marquette Mutineers in the fall of 2016.[2]
In 2018 the Monroe Blues ceased operations, followed by the West Bend Bombers in 2022.
In 2024 the league announced three new expansion teams: the Dane County Dairy Kings, the M&M Shamrocks (Marinette and Menominee), and the Sun Prairie Killer Bees (formerly of the American Premier Hockey League).[3]
League format
editThe league is made up of 11 teams that play a 20-game schedule running from October to March. Each GLHL game consists of three 20-minute periods. If the game is tied after regulation, there is a five-minute overtime, and if still tied, a four-round shootout.
Following the regular season is the playoff tournament. Teams are seeded in three pools based on regular season standings. Teams play one game against each team in their pool. The team with the best record in each pool advances to the semi-final. Of the remaining teams, the team with the greatest goal differential in pool play advances to the semi-finals as the wild card. In the event all teams in the same pool finish with a 1–1 record, the team with the greatest goal differential will advance to the semi-finals. The winners of the two semi-final games play for the championship. In the event a game is tied after overtime, additional overtime periods will be played until there is a winner.
Tournaments
editGibson Cup
editAnnual three-game series between long-time Michigan rivals Calumet Wolverines and the Portage Lake Pioneers. Named in honor of "Doc" Jack Gibson, the Gibson Cup was first awarded in 1939; it is the third oldest hockey trophy in the United States.[4]
Keevin Cup
editAn annual four-team pre-season tournament hosted by the Fond du Lac Bears, the Keevin Cup honors Kevin Ristau, a long-time club board member and ambassador.[5][6] The tournament takes place in late October.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fond du Lac Bears | Vernon Hills Capitals | 5-4 (OT) | |
| 2011 | Vernon Hills Capitals | Fond du Lac Bears | ||
| 2012 | Fond du Lac Bears | |||
| 2013 | Fond du Lac Bears | Fox Cities Ice Dogs | 7-6 | |
| 2014 | Fond du Lac Bears | Fox Cities Ice Dogs | 7-2 | |
| 2015 | Fond du Lac Bears | Marquette Iron Rangers | 13-5 | |
| 2016 | Fond du Lac Bears | Fox Cities Ice Dogs | 10-7 | |
| 2017 | West Bend Bombers | Fond du Lac Bears | ||
| 2018 | West Bend Bombers | Fond du Lac Bears | 2-1 | |
| 2019 | West Bend Bombers | Fond du Lac Bears | 3-2 | |
| 2021 | Fond du Lac Bears | West Bend Bombers | ||
| 2022 | Fond du Lac Bears | Fox Cities Ice Dogs |
Paper Cup
editAn annual competition between the Fox Cities Ice Dogs and the Mosinee Papermakers. The winner is determined by whichever team wins the most head to head matches against one another (goal differential is a factor). The Cup gets its name from the two teams' cities' deep roots in the paper industry.
River Cup Series
editThe River Cup Series is a two game series between the Eagle River Falcons and the Mosinee Papermakers. The Cup is awarded to the team that holds the greater goal differential at the end of both games.
Teams
edit| Eagle River Falcons | 1930 |
| Mosinee Papermakers | 1930 |
| Fond du Lac Bears | 1934 |
| Calumet Wolverines | 1937 |
| Portage Lake Pioneers | 1937 |
| De Pere Deacons | 1982 |
| Fox Cities Ice Dogs | 2002 |
| Sun Prairie Killer Bees | 2024 |
| M&M Shamrocks | 2024 |
| Dane County Dairy Kings | 2024 |
Former teams
edit- Wausau Cyclones (?-1999)
- Milwaukee Flyers (?-2005)
- Kenosha Knights (2005–07)
- Waupun Wolves (2001–09)
- Oregon Stampede (2009–10)
- Green Bay Hornets (2010–11)
- Brookfield Battalion (2010–12)
- Oregon Outlaws (2010–12)
- Vernon Hills Capitals (2008–13)
- Madison Blues (2008-2014)
- Madison Capitols (2003-2004)
- Marquette Iron Rangers (2015–16)
- Monroe Blues (2014–18)
- Stoughton Steel (2004-07)
- West Bend Bombers (2007-22)
- Marquette Mutineers (2016-24)
Champions
edit| Season | Magnuson Cup (regular season winner) |
Don Kohlman Cup (playoff champion) |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | Fond du Lac Bears | Calumet Wolverines |
| 2010-11 | Vernon Hills Capitals | Mosinee Papermakers |
| 2011-12 | Vernon Hills Capitals | Fond du Lac Bears |
| 2012-13 | Portage Lake Pioneers | Eagle River Falcons |
| 2013-14 | West Bend Bombers | Fond du Lac Bears |
| 2014-15 | West Bend Bombers | Portage Lake Pioneers |
| 2015-16 | West Bend Bombers | Portage Lake Pioneers[7] |
| 2016-17 | West Bend Bombers | Mosinee Papermakers |
| 2017-18 | Calumet Wolverines | West Bend Bombers |
| 2018-19 | Calumet Wolverines | Fox Cities Ice Dogs |
| 2019-20 | Mosinee Papermakers | None |
| 2020-21 | None | De Pere Deacons |
| 2021-22 | Eagle River Falcons | Fox Cities Ice Dogs |
| 2022-23 | Fond du Lac Bears | Mosinee Papermakers |
| 2023-24 | Portage Lake Pioneers | Fond du Lac Bears |
References
edit- ^ Burge, Brice (April 25, 2015). "Marquette Approved for Expansion GLHL Franchise". MQT Social Scene. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015.
- ^ Ludlum, Mike (September 6, 2016). "Marquette has a new hockey team". Upper Michigan's Source. Negaunee, Michigan: WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016.
- ^ "News and Notes from the 2024 GLHL Meeting". Great Lakes Hockey League. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Mary (June 1, 2016). "Vice World of Sports turns back the clock with the hockey trophy you never hear about". SBNation. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017.
- ^ Ritger, Laurie (October 23, 2014). "Bears hockey players support their biggest fan". Fond du Lac Reporter. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021.
- ^ Pflum, Lois A. (January 2015). "Kevin 'Keevin' Ristau: 30 Years of Dedication Has Formed Many Close Friendships for Fondy Bears Volunteer". Experience. Gannett Media. pp. 6–7 – via Issuu.
- ^ "Pioneers earn second consecutive GLHL championship". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, Michigan. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016.