The Great Lakes Invitational Tournament continues to be the top holiday tournament in the country. Many have challenged the GLI's stature, but one has matched its continued success.

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 discussed 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 become one of the country's premier college and holiday sporting events, originating at Detroit's Olympia Stadium. Michigan Tech, the tournament host 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 tournament moved west in 2022 to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. After a successful 2022 tournament, Van Andel Arena signed a four-year extension for the GLI with Michigan Tech and Michigan Tech.

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.