Five years ago today (Dec. 11), the University of Michigan hosted in-state rival Michigan State for the ‘Big Chill at the Big House’ – an event which helped the State of Michigan reclaim the world record for biggest attendance at a single hockey game. The record of 113,411 fans – despite competition from the 2014 NHL Winter Classic in the same venue – still stands today.
By Bob Miller and Mike Larson –
ANN ARBOR – When Michigan coach Red Berenson sat down for the Big Chill at the Big House post-game interview session he had a satisfied, and well-deserved, smile on his face.
The Michigan vs. Michigan State hockey game at the university’s storied football stadium was the realization of Berenson’s dream, a spectacle of pure entertainment and a world-record setter to boot.
Berenson had first envisioned playing in Michigan Stadium after he took the Wolverines to compete against Michigan State in East Lansing’s Spartan Stadium in the Cold War game on Oct. 6, 1991.
And while the Big Chill at the Big House was expected to set a new world record for attendance at a hockey game, the 113,411 fans that attended exceeded even the wildest of expectations. The game eclipsing the old Guinness World Record mark of 77,803, set on May 7 of this year in Germany during the 2010 IIHF World Championship game against the USA and Germany. The attendance also topped the old Michigan Stadium record of 113,090, set at Michigan’s home-opening football game against Connecticut earlier this season.
“Pretty good show, eh?” Berenson said. “This was something we looked forward to. We tried not to talk about it a lot. Once the ice was laid down and we started practicing, you could see this was going to be an unbelievable event. The weather cooperated. It couldn’t have been better. I don’t think you could put this whole event on, with these intangibles, and get a better result.”
On the ice, the Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead behind two goals from freshman defenseman Jon Merrill, who grew up 20 miles away in Brighton. Michigan also got two goals from senior captain Carl Hagelin and a single marker from junior left wing David Wohlberg and cruised to a 5-0 win over the Spartans.
Senior goalie Shawn Hunwick, who started the game in net after senior Bryan Hogan suffered an injury during warmups, admitted to being nervous, but ended up making 34 saves for the shutout.
Like a football Saturday
For the Big Chill, Ann Arbor had a football game-day feel to it, as fans flocked to Michigan Stadium from all directions. The parking lot at Pioneer High School across from the Stadium was packed with cars and RVs, and tailgaters and vendor tents were out in full force.
The only difference was that people were dressed in winter hats, thick jackets and hockey sweaters, rather than the fall attire usually seen during football season.
“This is just amazing, to see this many people in one place for a hockey game,” said University of Michigan sophomore Geoff Winstern. “It’s definitely a great experience. I’ll remember this forever.”
The temperature was just 41 degrees when the puck dropped, making it a pretty chilly affair.
“It was cold, but I didn’t really notice it,” Winstern said. “I think when you get that many people in one place, it doesn’t seem quite so bad.”
A great show
A Stealth bomber flyover followed the playing of the national anthem by a full complement of Michigan’s Marching Band who performed their traditional football pre-game program.
And after every goal scored, fireworks set up around the field launched a showing of brilliant color and smoke.
Then, after the game had finished and after the sun had gone down, fans were treated to a full-fledged fireworks display set to music.
The players also checked out the fireworks, with some kneeling on the ice to watch the show.
“It was pretty cool,” Merrill said. “It’s something you don’t get to see every day, so we wanted to stay and watch.”
“I thought Michigan put on a great show,” said Michigan State coach Rick Comley. “Tremendous crowd. Great atmosphere. When you plan something of this magnitude and it comes off this good, then they’re to be congratulated. It was everything that it was billed to be. I wish we could have responded better.”
Spartan players, though disappointed at the outcome, marveled at the experience.
“It was great,” said Michigan State captain Torey Krug of Livonia. “There are some things that a few of the guys in the room would like to have back, but ten years from now I’m still going to remember that it was the most fun I’ve ever had on an ice rink. We were like little kids on the ice.”
Michigan players came out of the stadium tunnel onto the field and relished the chance to receive the same type of welcome their football brethren experience before every home game.
“This is one of the most exciting days of my life,” said Michigan senior center Louie Caporusso. “You get shivers like you can’t imagine. It almost brings tears to your eyes. You can’t believe how much passion is at this school. Walking out of that tunnel, hitting that banner, it was something I’ll never do again, that’s for sure.”
Hagelin said the players had fun and enjoyed the atmosphere of playing in front of such a huge crowd.
“We didn’t think about anything as distractions,” he said. “And once the puck dropped, we were all ready to play.”
Berenson took a minute to relax after such a long, history-making day.
“I don’t know that it will be in perspective by the time I hit bed tonight, which will be in less than hour,” said Berenson. “But at some point we’ll realize that this was really something.”