DETROIT – Olympia Entertainment and Michigan Technological University have announced a four-year contract extension to keep the annual Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament in Detroit and move venues from Joe Louis Arena to the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena.

Now in its 53rd year, this season's installment of the GLI will take place on January 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 compete for the MacInnes Cup in the two-day, single-elimination tournament. Special invitee Bowling Green is set to join the field for the third time and most recent appearance since 1984.

The four-team tournament starts with a doubleheader matchup on Monday, January 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, January 2 at 6 p.m., while the puck drops on the third-place game at 2:30 p.m. on the same day.

"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," said Tom Wilson, President & CEO of Olympia Entertainment and Interim President of 313 Presents. "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."

Tickets are available now starting at $20 for the GLI. Tickets can be purchased at 313Presents.com, The Fox Theatre, and Little Caesars Arena XFINITY box offices and Ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 745-3000. For additional information, call (313) 471-6611.

In addition, Olympia Entertainment and Michigan Tech have announced the next three special invitees scheduled to play in the GLI alongside Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan Tech: Lake Superior State University (2018-19), Ferris State University (2019-20), and Northern Michigan University (2020-21).

"We're excited to continue this great partnership with the Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University," said Michigan Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret. "The GLI is one of the best college hockey tournaments in the country, and it'll be an exciting new chapter at Little Caesars Arena, starting this January with our 53rd annual tournament."

Tech has secured blocks of rooms at both the Motor City Casino and the Marriott Renaissance Center for fans attending this year's GLI. Book by November 10 at the Motor City Casino for special rates of $259 for December 31 and $149 for January 1 and 2. Call (866) 782-9622 and mention the code "MTUGLI18". Rates at the Renaissance Center are $151 for each night before December 1 and can be booked online HERE. The rates of both hotels don't include taxes.