College Hockey in the D Contract Extended for Four Years
11/6/2017 12:26:00 PM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team and Olympia Entertainment have announced a four-year contract extension that keeps the annual Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament and the "Duel in the D" game between Michigan and Michigan State in Detroit. This season's dates for the events are Jan. 1-2, 2018 for the GLI and Feb. 10 for the "Duel in the D."
"We're excited to announce the four-year extensions for 'College Hockey in the D,' as the GLI has become a holiday tradition for sports fans throughout the state of Michigan, and the 'Duel in the D' features one of the most exciting rivalries in college athletics," said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of Olympia Entertainment. "We look forward to welcoming college hockey fans to Little Caesars Arena to wear their colors and cheer on their teams, all while taking in the head-turning innovations and unparalleled fan experience within the world-class arena."
Now in its 53rd year, this season's installment of the GLI will take place Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 1-2, 2018, in conjunction with the inaugural season at Little Caesars Arena. Event host Michigan Tech, along with mainstays Michigan and Michigan State, will once again be competing for the MacInnes Cup in the two-day tournament. Special invitee Bowling Green is set to join the field for the third time and first appearance since 1984.
The four-team tournament starts with a doubleheader matchup on Monday, Jan. 1, between Michigan Tech (WCHA) and Michigan State (Big Ten) at 2:30 p.m., followed by Michigan (Big Ten) against Bowling Green (WCHA) at 6 p.m. The winners of those contests will advance to the championship game on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m., while the other two teams will meet in the third-place game at 2:30 p.m. on the same day.
Michigan is 58-36-1 all-time in the Great Lakes Invitational, including a tournament-record 17 GLI titles since the tournament's inception in 1965. U-M has appeared in 30 GLI title games with an overall record of 17-13 in those contests.
In addition, Olympia Entertainment announced the next three special invitees scheduled to play in the Great Lakes Invitational alongside Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan Tech: Lake Superior State University (2018-19), Ferris State University (2019-20) and Northern Michigan University (2020-21).
Individual tickets for the Great Lakes Invitational start at $20 and are now on sale for both days of the tournament. Tickets can be purchased at the Little Caesars Arena XFINITY Box Office, online at www.DetroitRedWings.com and www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Red Wings Ticket Sales and Service Office at 313-471-7575.
Additionally, the fierce in-state rivalry between the Michigan and the Michigan State will continue with the "Duel in the D" at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. The Wolverines and Spartans will once again compete for the "Iron D" Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the annual clash in Hockeytown.Â
Ticket information for the "Duel in the D" will be announced at a later time.
