MICHIGAN TECH AND LAKE SUPERIOR STATE TO PLAY FOR GLI CHAMPIONSHIP ON MONDAY AT 2:30 P.M. AT LITTLE CAESARS ARENA

DETROIT (December 30, 2018) – Tournament-host Michigan Tech will square off against Lake Superior State in an Upper Peninsula showdown in the Championship Game of the 54^th annual Great Lakes Invitational at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31 at the award-winning Little Caesars Arena in The District Detroit. The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans will meet in the third-place game at 11:30 a.m. The Championship Game will air live on FOX Sports Detroit.  

Michigan Tech returns to the GLI Championship Game for the fourth-straight season and sixth time in the last seven years after tying Michigan 2-2 in regulation and advancing via shootout during Sunday’s matinee matchup in front of 18,339 college hockey fans at Little Caesars Arena. Michigan Tech established an early lead as Huskies freshman Alec Broetzman tallied a power-play goal at 1:55 of the first period. Michigan freshman forward Nolan Moyle recorded his first career goal to tie the game at 1-1 at 6:02 of the second period. The back-and-forth affair continued in the middle frame, as the Huskies reclaimed the lead with a goal from forward Brian Halonen at 7:11 before Michigan sophomore Adam Winborg tied the game once again at 2-2 at 17:46. After a scoreless third period, regulation play ended in a 2-2 tie, followed by a scoreless five-minute overtime period. Michigan Tech goaltender Robbie Beydoun stopped four of five shootout attempts, in addition to making 36 saves in regulation, and freshman Tommy Parrottino scored the decisive goal in the shootout to propel the Huskies to the Championship Game for the 27^th time in the tournament’s history.

Making their first appearance in the GLI since 1999 and fourth overall tournament appearance, Lake Superior State advanced to the GLI Championship Game looking to become the third-straight GLI special invitee to win the MacInnes Cup (Bowling Green, 2018; Western Michigan, 2016). Lake Superior State senior Diego Cuglietta tallied two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to help Lake Superior to a 4-3 overtime win over Michigan State in the second game of the day. After spotting the Spartans two goals in the first period, the Lakers stormed back with three unanswered goals before Michigan State tied the game at 3-3, courtesy of freshman Wojciech Stachowiak’s second goal of the game at 7:55 of the third period. However, the Lakers secured their spot in an all-WCHA matchup in the GLI Championship on Monday thanks to Cuglietta’s game-winner at 3:05 of overtime.

Following the GLI Championship Game, the Red Wings will square off against the Florida Panthers in the team’s annual New Year’s Eve game at 7:30 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena. Tickets to the GLI and Red Wings game against the Florida Panthers are sold separately. Doors for the Red Wings game open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Great Lakes Invitational start at $15 and can be purchased at 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the Little Caesars Arena XFINITY box office. Tickets can also be purchased through The District Detroit App or by calling the Red Wings Ticket Sales and Service office at 313-471-7575.