The Great Lakes Hockey League (GLHL) is an elite amateur full contact ice hockey league that is affiliated with USA Hockey. Players must be at least 18 years of age and many have previous NCAA College, Junior A, or Professional hockey experience. There are currently 10 teams in the league. The teams are all based in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Each team plays two games against every other team in the league.
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.
In 2018 the Monroe Blues ceased operations, followed by the West Bend Bombers in 2022, and the Marquette Mutineers in 2024.
In 2024 the league announced three new expansion teams: the Dane County Dairy Kings, the M&M Shamrocks (Marinette and Menominee), and the Sun Prairie Killer Bees (formerly of the American Premier Hockey League).
The Dane County Dairy Kings would cease operations in 2025. The Sun Prairie Killer Bees moved to McFarland, WI, in 2026; while the Milwaukee Timberwolves would join the league.
League format The league is made up of 10 teams that play a 18-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 five-minute overtime, and if still tied, a four-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-upResult2010Fond du Lac BearsVernon Hills Capitals5-4 (OT)2011Vernon Hills CapitalsFond du Lac Bears2012Fond du Lac Bears2013Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs7-62014Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs7-22015Fond du Lac BearsMarquette Iron Rangers13-52016Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs10-72017West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears2018West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears2-12019West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears3-22021Fond du Lac BearsWest Bend Bombers2022Fond du Lac BearsFox Cities Ice Dogs
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
Eagle River Falcons1930 Mosinee Papermakers1930Fond du Lac Bears1934 Calumet Wolverines1937 Portage Lake Pioneers1937De Pere Deacons1977Fox Cities Ice Dogs2002McFarland Killer Bees2024M&M Shamrocks2024Milwaukee Timberwolves2026
Former teams Wausau Cyclones (1972-1999) 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) Madison Capitols (2003-2004) Marquette Iron Rangers (2015–16) Monroe Blues (2014–18) Stoughton Steel (2004-07) West Bend Bombers (2007-22) Marquette Mutineers (2016-24) Dane County Dairy Kings (2024-2025)
Champions SeasonMagnuson Cup(regular season winner)Don Kohlman Cup(playoff champion)2009-10Fond du Lac BearsCalumet Wolverines2010-11Vernon Hills CapitalsMosinee Papermakers2011-12Vernon Hills CapitalsFond du Lac Bears2012-13Portage Lake PioneersEagle River Falcons2013-14West Bend BombersFond du Lac Bears2014-15West Bend BombersPortage Lake Pioneers2015-16West Bend BombersPortage Lake Pioneers2016-17West Bend BombersMosinee Papermakers2017-18Calumet WolverinesWest Bend Bombers2018-19Calumet WolverinesFox Cities Ice Dogs2019-20Mosinee PapermakersNone2020-21NoneDe Pere Deacons2021-22Eagle River FalconsFox Cities Ice Dogs2022-23Fond du Lac BearsMosinee Papermakers2023-24Portage Lake PioneersFond du Lac Bears2024-25Portage Lake PioneersPortage Lake Pioneers2025-26Portage Lake PioneersPortage Lake Pioneers
References
External links GLHL Gibson Cup USA Hockey - adult hockey