North Michigan News

Tickets for the 58th Great Lakes Invitational will be available starting Friday, September 27 at 10 a.m. Fans can purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, and DeVos Performance Hall Box Office for the December 29 and 30 tournament.

Ticket prices are set on a per-day basis and will be distributed via mobile devices. On-glass tickets cost $75, lower bowl sections are priced at $50 and $40, student tickets are $15.50, and upper-level tickets are $30. Prices may change and additional fees could apply.

Student sections have been designated as follows:

- Northern Michigan: Section 120 (band in Section 220)

- Michigan Tech: Section 124 (band in Section 225)

- Michigan State: Section 106 (band in Section 205)

- Western Michigan: Section 110 (band in Section 210)

Northern Michigan will join three other Michigan-based schools at this year's Great Lakes Invitational held at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on December 29-30. The tournament includes GLI regulars Michigan Tech and Michigan State, along with Western Michigan. These teams will compete for the MacInnes Cup over two days. This year marks the 18th time four Michigan-based schools have participated in GLI history.

The event begins with a doubleheader on Sunday, December 29 featuring a game between Michigan Tech and Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m., followed by a match between Michigan State and Northern Michigan at 7 p.m. Winners of these games will advance to the GLI Championship game on Monday, December 30 at 7 p.m., while the third-place game is scheduled for earlier that day at 3:30 p.m.

The Great Lakes Invitational was first played in 1965 after being conceived by Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes, Olympia Stadium General Manager Lincoln Cavalieri, and Detroit Red Wings Scout Jack Paterson. The tournament has taken place at various venues including Olympia Stadium (1965-78), Joe Louis Arena (1979–2012, 2014–16), Comerica Park (2013), Little Caesars Arena (2018–19), with COVID-19 causing its cancellation in 2020. In recent years it was held as a non-tournament showcase-style event in 2021 before moving to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids from last year.

This year marks Northern Michigan's seventh participation in the GLI since their last appearance in which they lost to the University of Michigan but defeated Michigan State back in 2015. Historically, Northern has faced off against the Huskies three times with their most recent win being an impressive victory back in '98; additionally they've faced Spartans four times securing wins twice during '92 & '15 respectively! Meanwhile MTU boasts twelve titles over fifty-seven tournaments whereas MSU claims twelve across forty-nine appearances whilst WMU makes its seventh all-time showing having previously won last year's inaugural edition hosted here itself!