After picking up their first road wins of the season against Robert Morris College, the Illini men’s hockey club returns home this weekend to face off against another team of Eagles.

The No.1 Illini will begin a four-game home stand starting this Friday at 7 p.m. when the Eastern Michigan University Eagles pay a visit to the University of Illinois Ice Arena.

Over the last four seasons, the Ice Arena, also known as the “Big Pond” because of its incredibly large ice surface, has provided the Illini with a large home-ice advantage. Since the 2002-2003 season, the Illini have put up an unbelievable 61-4-3 record at home.

With the recent success of the team over the past few years, Illini hockey games have become a large draw for Illini students and fans alike.

“Some of the top teams in the league who draw great crowds definitely have an advantage,” team captain Steve Krates said. “Teams who come in feel intimidated by the large crowd.”

By being able to get into opposing teams’ heads and throwing them off its game, the fans have been able to provide a big advantage for the Illini.

“When you play in front of a packed stadium it gets your emotions going,” Krates said. “The crowd is great here. They are able to get into the players’ minds, which can get them off their game and get them to worry about the fans more than the game they’re playing.”

Along with the support from the fans, the large ice surface at home provides the Illini with a unique advantage that most teams struggle to adjust to.

“Our systems are meant to be played on this type of ice surface,” said senior forward and leading scorer Mike Roesch.

Being able to practice on the larger-than-normal ice surface everyday allows the Illini to become accustomed to the differences that most opposing teams find troubling.

“There is more time and everything happens slower compared to playing on a smaller rink,” Krates said. “Since we practice on it everyday, we’re used to it when other teams aren’t.”

The Illini look to use the home-ice advantage to avoid any type of let-down this weekend in their attempt to remain undefeated and gain points in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League conference standings against struggling Eastern Michigan.

The Eagles (3-9), led by junior forward Matt Opyd, have dropped their previous four games and are hoping for the Illini to falter to reverse their recent struggles.

“Any team that is struggling is going to be hungry for a win,” Roesch said. “We have to approach it like any other game to avoid any kind of let down.”