The Great Lakes Hockey League (GLHL) is a Semi Professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...

league that is affiliated with

USA Hockey USA Hockey is the national ice hockey organization in the United States. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the governing body for organized ice hockey in the United ...

. Players must be at least 18 years of age and most have previous NCAA College, Junior A or Professional hockey experience. There are currently nine teams in the league divided into two divisions. The teams are all based in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

and the Upper Peninsula of

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History

The 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 The Marquette Iron Rangers were a semi-pro team that played in the United States Hockey League from 1964-1976 and were five-time champions (three league and two playoffs). The team played the majority of their home games at the Palestra. The Mar ...

, who began play during the 2015–16 season. The club played just one season, before they were replaced by the Marquette Mutineers in the fall of 2016.

League Format

The league is made up of nine 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 5-minute overtime and if still tied a 4-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

Gibson Cup

Annual 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.

Keevin Cup

An 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. The tournament takes place in late October.

Paper Cup

An 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

The 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

Former teams

* 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) * Marquette Iron Rangers (2015–16) * Monroe Blues (2014–18) * Stoughton Steel (2004-2007)

Champions

References

{{reflist

External links

GLHL
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Gibson Cup
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USA Hockey - adult hockey
Ice hockey leagues in the United States Ice hockey in Wisconsin Ice hockey in Michigan