There’s no place like home. For the Illinois hockey team, the cliché is quite literal.

Known as the “Big Pond,” the home ice for the Illini is actually bigger than regulation-sized rinks. The NHL as well as ACHA opponents use rinks that are 200 feet by 85 feet, but the Big Pond is much wider at 195 by 115. The size difference creates an intriguing adjustment for visiting teams, as well as for Illinois when it takes to the road.

“It plays to a lot of guys’ strengths,” forward Austin Bostock said. “It’s definitely a home-ice advantage.”

The arena was initially built in 1931 as an ice skating rink and the hockey team has inhabited it ever since its inaugural season in 1959.

Illinois features a strong set of forwards with Bostock, John Olen and Scott Barrera, who are able to fully take advantage of the extended room to the outside. Because of the unique size, many opposing teams are caught off guard by the extra width on the ice.

“Sometimes teams come in here and are a little dumbfounded,” senior defenseman Mike Evans said. “A lot of teams, if it’s their first time here, pack in their defense to the center of the ice and it gives us a lot of room to move the puck around. It really works to our advantage.”

The extra space cuts both ways, however, as the Illinois defenders must cover a lot more ice in the defensive zone than on a regular rink. Especially for a team whose defense has been suspect at times, the Big Pond’s size only amplifies those weaknesses.

“I prefer a smaller rink, as a defenseman,” Evans said. “You can really cut down your angles a lot easier.”

Illinois (6-0-1) has to adjust as well when travelling on the road against teams that use the regulation size rink. The forwards can’t use their speed and get to the outside while cramped on a rink that is 30 feet thinner. The game speed is a lot faster on a smaller rink, and creates another set of problems for defenders.

In addition, most national tournaments use the regulation ice, so there is an adjustment to make for the ACHA National Tournament at the end of the year.

“Things tend to happen a lot quicker out there on a smaller rink,” head coach Nick Fabbrini said. “You have to make quicker decisions and you’re going to be playing in smaller spaces, which we’re not accustomed to.”

Both Evans and Fabbrini said that they would prefer to have the smaller rink size at home to eliminate any sort of adjustment period between the norm and playing on the road. There are a few adjustments that are made in the week’s preparation, depending on the host of the weekend’s games.

“When we’re playing on the road, we’ll play certain small-area games that emphasize quick decision-making,” Fabbrini said.

“We go in with a different mindset,” Evans added. “You can use the boards a lot easier and glass to make more passes.”

Another aspect to the Big Pond that many teams don’t feature is the crowds that come out to support the Illini. Near sellout crowds come to watch and make things difficult for the away teams and that home-ice advantage is a privilege that other schools might not have. Combined with the familiarity to its surroundings, it’s rare to see Illinois lose on its home ice.

Their success is why the Illini love playing on literally the biggest stage in the ACHA.

Stephen can be reached at [email protected] and @steve_bourbon.