Detroit, MI… The 47th Annual Great Lakes Invitational is fast approaching, with four high-profile NCAA squads set to descend upon Joe Louis Arena on December 29 and 30 for a single-elimination-style tournament that has become a holiday tradition for sports fans in southeastern Michigan. In addition to four action-packed college hockey games, attendees of this year’s GLI are also in store for a wide variety of unique contests and promotions as Olympia Entertainment’s 2011-12 “College Hockey in the D” schedule kicks off with a bang.

“We’re very excited about the new elements we’ve added to the 2011 edition of the GLI,” says Olympia Entertainment Director of Strategic Hockey Alliances Mike Bayoff. “This tournament has traditionally been a fun-filled, family-friendly event and we feel that the dynamic mix of promotions we’re rolling out this year will enhance those traits and further add to the festive collegiate atmosphere at The Joe.”

Host school Michigan Tech University will be setting up an interactive exhibition entitled “The Science of Hockey” on the main concourse at JLA for fans to visit throughout the duration of the 2011 GLI. This innovative educational exhibition is designed to be enjoyed by hockey enthusiasts of all ages and features a variety of exhibits which incorporate scientific lessons with hockey-related paraphernalia and equipment.

Presented by MTU’s Mind Trekkers Student Outreach Program, “The Science of Hockey” will open at 2:00 p.m. on both December 29 and 30 and will remain open until the end of the first period of both of the tournament’s afternoon (4:00 p.m.) games. Admission to “The Science of Hockey” is free with the purchase of any GLI ticket.

Special GLI VIP Ticket Packages are also available for purchase this year, affording fans the opportunity to enjoy a one-of-a-kind college hockey experience. In addition to receiving a “College Hockey in the D” t-shirt and a premium front row/glass seat, VIP ticket holders will also be invited to participate in a meet-and-greet with former Detroit Red Wings and NCAA players Chris Chelios and Doug Brown as well as a post-game on-ice experience. Priced at $65 apiece, more information on GLI VIP Ticket Packages can be obtained by calling (313) 396-7575.

An autographed college & pro jersey combo from NCAA alumni who have gone on to skate in the NHL will also be given away to four lucky fans at this year’s GLI. Jerseys signed by Justin Abdelkader (Spartans/Red Wings), Doug Brown (Eagles/Red Wings), Chris Conner (Huskies/Griffins) and Jack Johnson (Wolverines/Kings) will all be given away during this year’s GLI. In order to qualify to win one of these unique prizes, fans must fill out a ballot on the JLA concourse. One jersey package will be given away at each of the four matches scheduled to be played during the tournament.

The 2011 Great Lakes Invitational will begin with a match between Michigan State and Michigan Tech at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29 followed by a battle between Boston College and Michigan later that evening (puck drop @ 7:30 p.m.). The two winning teams will then compete for the GLI championship at 7:30 p.m. the following night, with the consolation final set to be staged immediately beforehand (puck drop @ 4:00 p.m.). Tickets to this event are now available for purchase at the JLA Box Office (313-396-7575), all Ticketmaster (800-745-3000) outlets, and online at OlympiaEntertainment.com

The Michigan State-Michigan hockey rivalry is just as intense as the football rivalry between the two largest schools in the state of Michigan.

The Wolverines and Spartans have met in Detroit at least once per season since 1990. During the series at The Joe, Michigan has held a slight series edge with 10 wins compared to Michigan State’s nine. Four games have ended in a tie. University of Michigan AD David Brandon can add this to the list of deals he has struck in his short time in Ann Arbor. ““I’m excited that we have extended our relationship with Olympia Entertainment, ensuring our fans that Michigan vs. Michigan State hockey games will be played at Joe Louis Arena for many years to come,” he said.

Despite a sub-par season in 2010-11 by the Spartans under former coach Rick Comley, they posted a 2-1 victory in front of over 18,000 fans January 29, 2011. The two teams will meet this season Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to this single game, the College Hockey in the D series at Joe Louis Arena this season consist of staple events like the Great Lakes Invitational and the CCHA Championship. The 2011 edition of the Great Lakes Invitational, set to be staged at Joe Louis Arena on December 29 and 30 of this year. Boston College and Michigan Tech will join Michigan State and Michigan for the right to hoist the MacInnes Trophy later this year.

The Mason Cup will be awarded to the CCHA tournament champion. And the champion will be awarded Saturday, March 12, 2012 after the semifinals the day before. This season, the Wolverines carry a 7-3-2 overall and 3-3-2-1 CCHA records heading into this weekends home series with Ohio State. The Spartans are only three points behind in conference with a 3-3-0-0 record. Their overall record is 6-4 as they travel to Marquette, Mich. to take on Northern Michigan.

““Our rivalry with Michigan is the greatest rivalry in our state, and as the most-played rivalry in all of college hockey, it allows us to add a chapter each year in one of the most exciting buildings in the National Hockey League. This partnership also allows us to showcase our programs, and engage our fans in the Detroit area.””- Michigan State Athletic Director Mark Hollis

” “It allows us to showcase one of the most exciting rivalries in college hockey in one of the grandest hockey venues in the state of Michigan, and also provides terrific exposure for both of these storied hockey programs.””- University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon

HWB is participating in “Movember” to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Make a difference, make a donation.

That in itself set off a domino effect with members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and CCHA getting together and forming the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in July. That conference will also begin play in 2013 and consist of North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, Miami (Ohio), Denver, and Colorado College. Every school with the exception of Miami are members of the WCHA while Miami is a member of the CCHA. The seven teams who have departed the conference finished in the top seven in the 2010-11 WCHA regular season standings.

The WCHA had to do something to add to the five remaining schools and what they did was raid the CCHA cabinet and extend invitations to Ferris State, Alaska, Western Michigan, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, and Bowling Green. Northern Michigan accepted the invitation to join the WCHA last month while Ferris State, Alaska, and Lake Superior State accepted and will join the conference in 2013 in the last week. Bowling Green has not made a final decision and will make one before the 30-day acceptance deadline according to an August 25 press release by the WCHA. The only school still in conference limbo is Notre Dame, and it is speculated they could either join Hockey East or NCHC if invited, or become an Independent like Alabama-Huntsville. The “new” WCHA will have 10 teams and can move up to 11 depending on Bowling Green. The NCHC will have six teams, the same number as the Big Ten.

It looks like the CCHA as we know it could cease to exist. Every conference member (sans Bowling Green and Notre Dame) will depart to a new league in 2013. The CCHA could remain and expand to smaller schools out east, including members of Atlantic Hockey and ECAC. That could happen but it is still to be determined. The CCHA is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. And without any Michigan-based schools in the conference, it will be difficult to attract schools in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, etc. The CCHA and WCHA had a series of meetings last week in Chicago. The leagues will continue to meet and discuss logistical issues such as by-laws, scheduling, tournament scenarios, finances and adding additional members.

Yesterday the “small” three conferences were previewed. Today, the “big” three conferences are previewed.

Hockey East: Terriers Hope to eat Competition Again

Boston University won the National Championship in one of the greatest hockey games you will ever see. With an extra-attacker on the ice and trailing Miami 3-1, the Terriers scored twice in the final minute and took the title 11:47 in the first OT period to win the title for the first time since 1995. In one of the toughest conferences in the nation, the Terriers received six of the 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll. In addition to the Terriers, look for UMass-Lowell and  Boston College attempt to dethrone Boston U with Vermont leading the rest of the teams in the conference.

CCHA: Both Coaches and Media Hail to the Victors in Michigan

Michigan forward Louie Caporusso hopes to lead the Wolverines to the Frozen Four at Ford Field in April.

For the first time in four years, both the coaches and media agree on the same team in the preseason poll. The Wolverines are always a favorite in the conference, as they have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 19 years in a row. That is quite an astonishing streak considering the amount of turnover due to graduations and players turning professional. Like Michigan State in basketball, Michigan hockey has the chance to play for a national title in its own backyard as it’s only 44 miles from Yost Ice Arena to Ford Field. Look for Miami and Notre Dame to challenge Michigan at the top of the standings, with Miami taking the tournament championship.

WCHA: Pioneers are Head of the Class

Denver finished last season with a bad taste in its mouth. One of the top teams in the nation, they lost to #5 seed Minnesota- Duluth in the WCHA Championship game. The following weekend they lost in the first round to eventual runners-up Miami. The Pioneers look to bounce back in what was a down year for the league as only three teams qualified for the tournament. A sharp contrast compared to 2005 when five teams qualified and all Frozen Four participants came from the WCHA. There’s several teams that can challenge the Pioneers, including Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Look for the Badgers to take the conference title this season.

ECAC: Bulldogs are Favored in Both Polls

Last season, Yale won both the regular-season and conference championships. They earned a #2 seed in the East Regional before losing in the first round to Vermont. Both the coaches and media are picking the Bulldogs to repeat. They return virtually all of their offense as each of their top-ten scorers return for this season. While Yale is the favorite, don’t sleep on contenders Cornell and Princeton.

Atlantic Hockey: Air Force Looks to Keep Flying High

Air Force has qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the last three seasons. Last season, they tied for the regular-season championship with RIT, but it was the Falcons who not only won the Atlantic Hockey Tournament, but upset #4 seed Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons are picked to win the conference again this season, but expect the Tigers and Mercyhurst Lakers to take a shot at knocking down the Falcons.

Bemidji State will have to go through Niagra if they want to achieve the same magic as last season.

College Hockey America: Beavers and Purple Eagles Split Final CHA Preseason Poll

In the final season of College America, Bemidji State and Niagra are head of the class while Robert Morris and Alabama- Huntsville follow behind. With four teams in the conference, it feels like a band going out on tour one last time before disbanding. The Beavers are going to the WCHA next season, while Robert Morris and Niagra are moving to Atlantic Hockey. The Chargers are still looking for a conference after being denied by the CCHA over the summer. The Beavers were the Cinderella team last season, advancing to the Frozen Four in Washington D.C. as a #4 seed. Only one team will come out of this conference, will the Beavers qualify again? Will the Purple Eagles want some of the Cinderella magic the Beavers had this season? Expect Bemidji State to take the conference title again.