Four high school games will take place Sunday at Michigan Stadium.

AnnArbor.com file photo

More than 100,000 fans are expected to turn out for the Big Chill at the Big House outdoor hockey game at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 11. Just a few hundred are expected Sunday when six area high school teams will play on the recently constructed ice surface at Michigan Stadium.

"Just think of all the kids, high school kids, midget kids, pee-wee kids - all the memories that are going to be made next week," Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson said. "It's going to be pretty special. This is a whole community hockey event. It's really grown into a big event."

The Pioneer High School girls will play the first game at 9 a.m., while Father Gabriel Richard will play Skyline in the first high school boys game at 4 p.m. Richard coach Tom O’Brien expects the seating for 300 in temporary bleachers not to be enough for his team’s supporters.

He estimates 500 people from Richard will show up on Sunday.

“My impression is a significant amount of people will be sitting and standing around the rink, kind of like old dads at a pee wee game, except we’re in this huge stadium, which will be great,” O’Brien said. “I hope it will have the feel of kind of like small town high school (football) game.”

On the ice, O’Brien isn’t worried about his players adjusting to the cold. They practice at Buhr Park and are used to playing outside. Adjusting to playing in with the largest football stadium in the world surrounding them - that’s another story.

“We’re used to playing outside, and adjusting to it, but the butterflies, I’m sure, will be going,” O’Brien said. “It should be a great time.”

Because Skyline isn’t a varsity program, that game will be a scrimmage, while Pioneer-Saline at 6 p.m., and Huron- Dexter at 8 p.m. will be league contests.

Saline coach Drew Denzin doesn’t plan on having his team happily skating around posing for pictures, but to play hard, as always. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate the moment.

“While we’re still trying to put a competitive team out there, we’ll be getting everyone on the ice. The goalies will split, so they can both play, and everyone will get to experience being out there,” Denzin said. “While wins and losses are important, it is important all these players get to experience being out there.”

Denzin - a former Michigan player - doesn’t expect butterflies to be an issue, but rather offsetting.

“Luckily, both teams will be equally off,” Denzin said. “I may have to catch myself from staring around when I’m standing on the bench.”

An Ann Arbor native, Denzin played at Michigan and grew up playing at Buhr in its pre-roof days.

“Me and the guys I grew up with got started on the free play mentality, being outside just playing in pickup games, but nothing like this obviously,” Denzin said. “This is the pinnacle of that outside, backyard shinny mentality.”

* Jeff Arnold contributed to this article

HOCKEY AT THE BIG HOUSE

While the stands will not be open on Sunday, admission to Michigan Stadium will be free. Following is schedule of the games:

Girls - Pioneer High School vs. University Liggett High School, 9 a.m. Boys - Victory Honda Midget Minors vs. Windsor Junior Spitfires?, TBD Boys - Victory Honda Midget Majors vs. Columbus Junior Blue Jackets,?TBD Boys - Skyline High School vs. Father Gabriel Richard High School, 4 p.m. Boys - Saline High School vs. Pioneer High School?, 6 p.m. Boys - Huron High School vs. Dexter High School, 8 p.m.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561.