The biggest difference I can think of right away is when all the small ice activate at once. I don't know the set times, but I do know a large ice won't spawn all that quickly after all smalls do.

Besides, part of the Shatter experience is the "randomness" of the spawns. A timer, or just knowing the general spawn times can help, but is it the center ice? North? Southwest? Even then, knowing which will activate first guarantees no advantage. If you're closer, you can get to it first, but an enemy team can follow you and attack you to try and stop you from getting there. If you're too far from it, you can opt to take bases and pick off anyone respawning or traveling through the map. There's a check and balance to most situations.