>Another advantage can be the proximity of the home bench to the penalty
box, although
>with the rule change about playing the puck coming out of the penalty box,
I don't know
>if this would make as much of a difference.  I've heard of this advantage
because (if
>memory serves) Michigan State's Munn Arena has the home bench right next to
the penalty
>box, while the visitor's bench is across the ice from it.  I've heard
several fans from
>other schools complaining about it (-:
 
This is the case at the Houston (RPI) Field House also. Although
its not as big an advantage now with the rule change, its still an advantage.
Often after a penalty is over, the penalized player heads for the bench
to get the regular lines back on the ice. At RPI, the RPI skater
can hop out of the box take two steps and hop onto the bench as the
new player comes over the wall. The opponent must skate across the ice
to reach his bench. A minor advantage but every little bit counts :-)
Mark Lewin
Class of '69
 
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