The GLJHL joined USA Hockey for the 2008/2009 season as a Tier III Junior C league.
The Erie Lakers folded before playing any games. The rest of the season was more successful.
The league sent two teams to the USA Hockey 2009 Tier-III Junior Nationals, the Illinois Frontenacs and Chicago Huskies. The teams competed in different divisions of the Junior C competition amongst 6 other teams and met in the semi-finals. Ultimately, the Chicago Huskies became the Tier-III Junior C National Champions, winning over the Atlanta Knights from the SEJHL.
This greatly helped the GLJHL application for a Junior B status. It was granted Junior B status 4 Months after the league started in January 2009.
In May 2010, the league announced a major realignment and expansion for the 2010-2011 season. The GLJHL Danville Inferno relocated to Indanapolis to become the Indianapolis Inferno. The Illinois Frontenacs will move to the FSI Shark Tank Arena in suburban St. Louis, Missouri to become the St. Louis Frontenacs. Three new teams will join the league, the Wooster Oilers based out of Wooster, Ohio will join the GLJHL from the Independent Jr. A Northern Junior Hockey League. Fort Wayne Federals and Columbus OutCold will also join as an expansion franchises team