Hail To The Victors Valiant: U Of M Wins, As The Big Chill Breaks Multiple Records

Both teams line up at their blue lines in front of 113,411 fans. (Monica McAlister / THW)

It was a cold morning and the fog was thick as I made the drive down to Ann Arbor, Michigan for what was my first trip to Michigan Stadium. The stadium was looming behind the cloak of early morning fog, and there was excitement building for the unknown.

A chill was coming – The Big Chill at the Big House, to be exact.

Darkness falls on The Big Chill (Monica McAlister/ THW)

The game marked the second time since the turn of the century that the ice hockey teams of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University met in an outdoor game. This game, however, was about much more than inner-state rivals re-matching a 2001 tie game – it was history.

Record Announcement (Monica McAlister / THW)

On Saturday December 11, 2010, 113,411 hockey fans packed into Michigan Stadium to watch U of M shutout MSU 5-0 and set a new bench mark for multiple records. The biggest story was the fact that it was the largest audience for a hockey game ever. The previous record was set at this year’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, with 75,976 in attendance to watch host country Germany take on Team USA at the Veletins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

This is an amazing feat in itself, but wait. There’s more. The 113,411 fans not only set a global record for the most at a hockey game, but the most to attend any event at The Big House (Michigan Stadium). The previous record was set earlier this season when the U of M football team played Connecticut on September 4, 2010 with 113,090 in attendance.

And yes, there’s still more. The Big Chill at the Big House is officially the largest NCAA event ever. Lets give this some perspective…

The Rose Bowl’s record attendance is 106,860 and was set back in 1973.

U of M Salutes fans after 5-0 Big Chill win over MSU (Monica McAlister / THW)

How Swede it is…

Michigan co-captain Carl Hagelin is a native of Södertälje, Sweden. The senior is set to turn pro next season, with his National Hockey League rights belonging to the New York Rangers. Hagelin scored two goals and had an assist in The Big Chill.

Hagelin leads the current U of M roster with 15 points in 16 career games against MSU.

Starting lines for the game
University of Michigan
Carl Hageling, Matt Rust, Luke Glendening, Chad Langlais, Jon Merrill and Shawn Hunwick.

Michigan State Univeristy
Jake Chelios, Derek Grant, Brett Perlini, Torey Krug, Matt Grassi, and Drew Palmisano.

The Big Chill in notes
The game was played on Olympic-sized ice (200’ x 100‘), rather than a standard NHL-size rink (200’ x 85’)

U of M now has a four-game winning streak over MSU; this was the first U of M shutout against MSU since December 5, 2003.

U of M wore special ADIDAS game jerseys that had an image of a wolverine ( the team’s mascot) on the front, and stripes on the shoulders. They were modeled after the sweaters worn by the university from 1945-48.

Former NHL Norris trophy winner Chris Chelios (Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Atlanta Thrashers) was in attendance as both of his sons (Dean and Jake) are on the MSU team.

After the team introductions and national anthem, there was a fly-over by a B-2 stealth bomber; and the ceremonial puck drop was by game sponsor Arby’s, along with writers of the movie “The Big Chill,” Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek.

U of M head coach Red Berenson, who is currently in his 27th year at head coach, was honored by fans and former players. Berenson, a native of Regina Saskatchewan, Canada played for the University of Michigan before going on to play in the NHL (Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Detroit Red Wings).