Starting in February 2011, the top teams of the league played down for the Russell Cup, emblematic of the grand championship of the GMHL.
The Elliot Lake Bobcats won their first Russell Cup by defeating the South Muskoka Shield 4-games-to-3.
In mid-January, it was announced that the town of Iron Bridge, Ontario and its 500-seat Outdoor Arena would host a regular season game, known as the North Shore Winter Classic, between the Elliot Lake Bobcats and Algoma Avalanche on January 29, 2011.
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title Teams listed on the official league website.
[3] Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average https://web.archive.org/web/20110306091229/http://gmhl.net/news/league-news/282-russell-cup-playoffs-underway