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Guinness Book of Records puts official Big Chill at The Big House attendance at 104,173

Michigan players celebrate their fifth goal of the game as fireworks explode in the background during third period action of the Big Chill hockey game at Michigan Stadium against Michigan State.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

In the weeks following The Big Chill At The Big House, this much was true: The second outdoor meeting between the Michigan hockey team and rival Michigan State was played before a world record crowd.

The only question left to be answered was exactly how many people witnessed it.

Guinness World Records has set the new attendance mark at 104,173, Michigan officials confirmed Saturday. The mark shatters the former record of 77,803 set at last year's International Ice Hockey Federation world championships in Germany by more than 26,200 fans.

Guinness World Records confirms Big Chill at the Big House record crowd, puts initial number at 85,451

Ann Arbor residents Ed Chadd, Kary Oetjen, Brian Bartek, and Katari Carello dance during the fireworks show at the conclusion of the Big Chill at the Big House.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

As expected, the Big Chill at the Big House produced a world record crowd.

Michigan officials announced an attendance of 113,411 on Saturday for the outdoor hockey game in Michigan Stadium, shattering the mark of 77,803. A Guinness World Records official who attended the game, however, says the number likely will be smaller. The base number he is working with is 85,451, which is how many tickets were scanned by the third period of the Michigan hockey team's 5-0 victory over Michigan State.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon says Big Chill at the Big House may not be the last of its kind

Fireworks erupt over Michigan Stadium Saturday night following the Big Chill At The Big House hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

When Dave Brandon first announced plans for the Big Chill at the Big House, the Michigan athletic director characterized the event as once-in-a-lifetime.

It appears the success of Saturday's outdoor hockey game that drew an announced crowd of 113,411 for Michigan's 5-0 win over Michigan State has caused the Michigan athletic director to reconsider.

Brandon said Saturday night he could see a scenario where Michigan Stadium could host an outdoor hockey game every four years. The Big Chill was the second outdoor meeting between the Wolverines and Spartans and came nine years after The Cold War was played at Spartan Stadium.

Slideshow: Images from the open skate on the Big Chill ice at Michigan Stadium

After all of the hockey games and fireworks, it was anybody and everybody's turn on the ice at Michigan Stadium. Several people took advantage of the open skates scheduled on the Big Chill at the Big House ice. Photographer Melanie Maxwell captured the scene.

The Big Chill at the Big House: A comprehensive guide to Saturday's coverage

The Michigan salutes the student section at Michigan Stadium following the Wolverines' 5-0 win over Michigan State at Saturday's Big Chill at the Big House.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Fireworks exploded above Michigan Stadium and attendance records were shattered inside.

Yes, the Big Chill at the Big House was every bit the spectacle it promised to be.

Especially for the Michigan hockey team that, in the midst of the pageantry, skated to a 5-0 win over Michigan State.

Opinion: On a perfect night, everything went right for Michigan's Big Chill at the Big House

Fireworks go off at the conclusion of the Big Chill at the Big House on Saturday.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The stealth bomber departed Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont., sometime in the early afternoon, cruised past the snow-covered Midwest and screamed over the Michigan Stadium crowd precisely at the end of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

Everything worked that way Saturday. The fly-over, the ice condition, the fireworks - all the details fell in Michigan’s favor during the elaborate and wildly successful Big Chill at the Big House.

Video: Sights and sounds from the Big Chill at the Big House at Michigan Stadium

From start to finish, the Big Chill at the Big House on Saturday at Michigan Stadium was an unique event and drew a record crowd of 113,411. AnnArbor.com photographer Melanie Maxwell captures the entire event in 2 minutes, 33 seconds, from tailgating, to the game and to the fireworks.

Notebook: Big Chill at the Big House attracts Guinness Book representative, record crowd makes an impression and more

Part of a world-record crowd begins to pour into Michigan Stadium prior to Saturday's Big Chill at the Big House.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Mike Janela has seen a lot of Guinness World Records attempts during his time as a New York-based adjudicator for the record company.

He verified the largest serving of roast pork in Mexico and the highest tightrope crossing on a bicycle. He was at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, too, to verify the largest crowd to witness a hockey game.

Video: A look at how fans enjoyed the Big Chill at the Big House

Nobody spoke to more fans at Michigan Stadium on Saturday than Pete Cunningham. Here they are, drinking, layering clothing to stay warm and cheering the Michigan hockey team at the Big Chill at the Big House.

Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick makes the most of emergency start on 'unbelievable' stage

Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick gets ready to lead the Wolverines out of the Michigan Stadium tunnel for the Big Chill at the Big House on Saturday. Hunwick, who stopped 34 shots in a 5-0 win, got the start when Bryan Hogan injured his groin during pregame warmups.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

By the time Shawn Hunwick reached his phone Saturday night, 30 text messages awaited him.

He arrived at Michigan Stadium earlier in the day, prepared to watch the Big Chill at the Big House from the bench while fellow goalie Bryan Hogan attempted to give the Michigan hockey team its fourth straight win against Michigan State.

That quickly changed, though, when Hogan pulled his groin during warmups.

"I'm not going to lie. When I saw (Hogan) go down, I was pretty scared. I mean, you're going to be in front of 113,000," Hunwick said after Michigan's 5-0 outdoor victory over the Spartans in front of a record crowd of 113,411.

"But I saw it as an opportunity."

On Thursday, Michigan coach Red Berenson announced Hogan would start Saturday after relying on both goalies over the first two months of the season.

Hunwick was the hard-luck victim of some disappointing Friday night showings, registering a 2-3-4 record. Hogan, meanwhile, won seven of his nine outings.

The Big Chill is bittersweet for Michigan State hockey team

Mac Bennett, right, tries to spoil a first-period shot by Michigan State's Trevor Nill.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Peel away the thick layers of pageantry that surrounded the Big Chill in the Big House and there remains a pretty heated college hockey rivalry.

So while much of a world-record crowd of 113,411 that gathered at Michigan Stadium on Saturday remained in their seats to watch post-game fireworks, the Michigan State hockey team sat on its bench, simultaneously soaking in the atmosphere and stewing over a 5-0 loss to Michigan.

"The whole thing was great. If you can separate losing you can't, as a person involved in hockey, experience anything better than what you experienced tonight," Michigan State coach Rick Comley said.

But there was a loss. The Spartans (6-9-3, 3-8-1-0 CCHA) were shut out for the third time in six games by a Michigan goaltender, Shawn Hunwick, who learned he was starting just minutes before the game.

He may not remember it all, but Jon Merrill scored twice for Michigan in the Big Chill

Michigan freshman defenseman Jon Merrill, a Brighton native, celebrates after his first of two first-period goals at Saturday's Big Chill at the Big House.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Renee Merrill sent her son a text message Saturday morning. Jon Merrill was about to play in the biggest hockey game of his young Michigan career and she wanted to offer a little bit of encouragement.

“I’m your No. 1 fan,” Renee texted. “I’ll be there. Just play hard. Be proud.”

Renee often texts Jon Merrill on game days. And she’s around a lot, too, as he grew up in nearby Brighton.

What Merrill did on Saturday in the Big Chill at the Big House at Michigan Stadium, though, was unexpected. On a team of experienced forwards, it was the 18-year-old freshman defenseman who scored Michigan’s first goal during a 5-0 rout of Michigan State in front of a record crowd of 113,411.

And then the second.

After the Big Chill ended, it seemed like Merrill didn’t quite believe it either. If you had told him earlier in the week that he -- and not forwards Louie Caparusso or Carl Hagelin or David Wohlberg -- would be the game’s first goal scorer, he would have laughed.

Michigan 5, Michigan State 0: Michigan hockey overwhelms Michigan State before world-record crowd in Big Chill at the Big House

Fireworks explode as Michigan players celebrate their fifth goal at the Big Chill at the Big House hockey game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. The Wolverines beat Michigan State, 5-0.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

As colorful fireworks lit up the night sky over Michigan Stadium Saturday night, what took place over the preceding three hours hadn't completely sunk in.

Not for Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson , who acknowledged he needed more time to put the Wolverines' 5-0 Big Chill at the Big House victory over Michigan State in front of a world-record crowd of 113,411 into perspective.

Not for goalie Shawn Hunwick, who learned less than 30 minutes before he registered a shutout and 34 saves that he would play in the stadium his childhood football heroes competed in.

And certainly not for freshman defenseman Jon Merrill, who scored the Wolverines' first two goals, providing Michigan with a stream of momentum the Spartans never regained.

"Pretty good show, eh?," Berenson said afterward.

Pretty good, indeed. And then some.

Slideshow: Images from the Big Chill at the Big House hockey game at Michigan Stadium

The Big Chill at the Big House college hockey game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday drew a world-record crowd for a hockey game. AnnArbor.com photographers Melanie Maxwell, Lon Horwedel and Angela J. Cesere captured the action before, during and after the game. This file will be updated throughout the day.

Michigan 5, Michigan State 0: Record crowd sees Jon Merrill, Carl Hagelin score twice for Michigan

Michigan sophomore Chris Brown, junior David Wohlberg and senior Louie Caporusso celebrate a third-period goal Saturday in the Big Chill at the Big House.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The largest crowd to see an NCAA event of any kind showed up at Michigan Stadium Saturday, and the Michigan hockey team enjoyed a 5-0 victory against Michigan State in the Big Chill at the Big House.

The announced attendance was a world-record 113,411, more than any Michigan football game. The fans cheered the pre-game fireworks, each Michigan goal and most stayed for the post-game fireworks.

Freshman defenseman Jon Merrill and senior left wing Carl Hagelin both scored twice as the Wolverines (10-5-4, 9-3-1-0 CCHA) scored three power-play goals. It’s the seventh time Hagelin has scored at least two goals in a game.

Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick, starting in place of Bryan Hogan - who pulled a groin muscle in pregame warmups - stopped 34 shots for his second career shutout.

Stars of the game: No. 3: Matt Rust, who had three assists. No. 2: Carl Hagelin, who had two goals and an assist. No. 1: Jon Merrill.

Hockey fans brave the cold for the Big Chill

Alllen Spencer of South Haven pours hot apple cider into a cup at a tailgate near Main Street.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

University of Michigan hockey fan Paul Kopas came all the way from Toronto for The Big Chill at the Big House Saturday.

And rather than warming up before the game, he cooled down by participating in a milk-shake-drinking contest.

"The concept is you drink a shake as fast as you can ... and the ultimate champion wins Arby's (food) for a year," he explained prior to the contest's first round.

"I've been stretching," he joked. "I expect to move on (from the first round)."

Kopas was equally confident that U-M would win the game.

"I am very much looking forward to the game," he said. "Absolutely, they've got a chance at winning. The defense has really matured over the last six months."

Join AnnArbor.com for a live chat during the Big Chill at the Big House

Join AnnArbor.com sports reporters Jeff Arnold, Michael Rothstein and Rich Rezler for a live chat from the Michigan Stadium press box during today's Big Chill at the Big House.

We'll fire up the chat at 2:30 p.m. and take you through the entire Michigan vs. Michigan State hockey game and all the pageantry surrounding it.

Michigan State at Michigan : The mega guide to the Big Chill at the Big House

A world-record crowd is expected to fill Michigan Stadium for Saturday's Big Chill at the Big House.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

The most anticipated game in Michigan hockey history is finally upon us.

Nearly 11 months since the event was first announced -- and nine years after the two same schools started the outdoor hockey craze with The Cold War at Spartan Stadium -- Michigan and Michigan State will face off at Michigan Stadium on Saturday (3 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

The Big Chill at the Big House is expected to draw a world-record crowd for a hockey game to the corner of Main and Stadium in Ann Arbor and bring with it all the pageantry, and then some, of a Michigan football game.

slideshow: Images from Michigan and Michigan State's last practices before the Big Chill at the Big House

The Michigan and Michigan State hockey teams practiced on the outdoor rink at Michigan Stadium Friday, their last preparation before Saturday's Big Chill at the Big House.

Michigan State at Michigan: Michigan hockey players savor final quiet moments before the Big Chill at the Big House

The Michigan hockey team practices on the Big Chill rink in bright afternoon sunshine at Michigan Stadium on Friday, the Wolverines' last practice before the outdoor showdown with Michigan State.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

At times this week, the silence was almost eerie inside a nearly empty football stadium.

For five days, the Michigan hockey team skated in front of 109,000 empty seats, adjusting to the outdoor surface the Wolverines will compete on against Michigan State on Saturday in the Big Chill at the Big House.

Mentally, the players and coaches have pictured a world-record crowd that is expected to witness the third outdoor game Michigan has played in. As much as players relish the thought out playing inside a packed Michigan Stadium, the quiet provided perspective.

On Thursday, Michigan captain Luke Glendening was among the last skaters off the ice, cherishing nearly having the place to himself. It took him back to his childhood growing up in East Grand Rapids, skating on a backyard rink built by his father.