I think they do this because they don't want people getting hit with puck's that might fly off the ice. They also do this at the Bradley Center for Admiral games. I have been to the hole for many Badger basketball games and they don't do this.
Also, on the note of poor fans, at the Cincinnati game I actually got asked by the folks behind me to sit down during one of MU's runs in the first half. I actually could not believe that the guy asked me because almost everyone else in the arena was standing, I could have understood this more if it was an elderly person or someone unable to stand, but this was a young guy who was sipping a beer and complained to me that when I stood and cheered he wasn't able to see the game... unreal.