Great Lakes Hockey League (adult)


The Great Lakes Hockey League is an elite amateur Senior men’s full contact ice hockey league that is affiliated with USA Hockey. Players must be at least 18 years of age and most have previous college, Junior or semi-pro hockey experience. There are currently nine teams in the league divided into two divisions. The teams are all based in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

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, 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.
YearWinnerRunner-upResult
2010Fond du Lac BearsVernon Hills Capitals5-4
2011Vernon Hills CapitalsFond du Lac Bears
2012Fond du Lac Bears
2013Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs7-6
2014Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs7-2
2015Fond du Lac BearsMarquette Iron Rangers13-5
2016Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs10-7
2017West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears
2018West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears2-1
2019West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears3-2

Teams

North DivisionFirst Season
Calumet Wolverines1937
Eagle River Falcons1930
Marquette Mutineers2016
Mosinee Papermakers1930
Portage Lake Pioneers1937
South DivisionFirst Season
De Pere Deacons1982
Fond du Lac Bears1934
Fox Cities Ice Dogs2002
West Bend Bombers2008

Former teams