Technically speaking, The Big Chill at the Big House will be an outdoor hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State on Saturday in Michigan Stadium.

But while the Dec. 11 game is the main event, the Big Chill has become a week-long hockey spectacle involving more than just the 40-or so roster members of the CCHA opponents.

Even Michigan coach Red Berenson, who insists on staying focused on preparing his team for Saturday’s game, couldn’t help but appreciate how the University has used the Big Chill to create “a whole hockey community event.”

“It has really grown into … not a monster, but a big event,” Berenson said last Thursday.

From the three Ann Arbor public high schools, to Michigan’s and Michigan State’s club teams, to former 1998 Wolverine captain Matt Herr’s prep team from Connecticut, the University has been made the Big Chill rink accessible to local and special programs.

More than 25 teams will have played on the ice before Saturday’s game. Students and fans will then have the opportunity to participate in an open skate on Sunday.

Michigan alum Mike Hagen is the head coach of Ann Arbor’s Skyline High School prep team and although his team was defeated 4-1 on Sunday by Ann Arbor private school Gabriel-Richard, Hagen knows the opportunity to play hockey in Michigan Stadium was unforgettable for his young team.

“The University opened the place up to the public,” Hagen said. “It’s really gracious of them to do that. It’s just big for hockey, its big for the community. It just brought a lot of attention to hockey in general, and it generated a lot of excitement for all these teams. These guys came, walked out of the tunnel (Sunday), looked up there in the stadium and their eyes were as big as saucers.”

PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS: While the University made a point of incorporating the local hockey community into the week leading up to the Big Chill, Saturday will be all about entertaining the 113,000 people expected to be in attendance.

In addition to pre-and post-game fireworks shows, there will be fireworks launched from each endzone each time the 12th-ranked Wolverines score. The post-game fireworks display will even be set to music from the movie The Big Chill. Both teams will remain on the benches after the end of the game to see the post-game show. And the writers of the 1983 movie — one of whom is a Michigan alum — will drop a ceremonial puck at center ice before the game.

When asked ‘Why fireworks?,’ Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions Mark Riordan didn’t hesitate.

“It’s an event,” Riordan said. “(Fireworks) just make it even better. You think about it being in section 29, row 98, you’re not going to see all the action. But the fireworks are part of the event. You’re going to leave here thinking, ‘That was awesome.’ ”

When Riordan called the Big Chill an event, he wasn’t kidding. Michigan contacted the Guinness World Records last year to make sure there would be representatives in attendance for Saturday’s game, as it is projected to be the most attended hockey game in history.

“One of the best things the last three weeks (has been) dealing with the Guinness records people,” Riordan said. “We had to talk to people in London to make sure they’re coming over to get this thing justified and make sure it’s a Guinness record. We can only go for one record, and it’s the largest hockey game record. The 77,000 that was in Germany this summer is the one that we’re going to beat.”

NOTES: Michigan’s and Michigan State’s club hockey teams faced off in a gamed dubbed “the Little Chill” on Tuesday Night. The Wolverines club team lost to the Spartans club team, 3-2. … After practice on Wednesday, Berenson said there is still no decision on which senior netminder will start in goal for Michigan on Saturday.