Page 80 of Like a Power Play (Greenrock University: Icebound #1)
Four Years Later
FORMER NCAA STAR FOUNDS WORLD'S FIRST "AUTOIMMUNE" HOCKEY LEAGUE
As the weather cools, things are heating up at Portland’s newly opened POWER Ice Arena, where founder Darcy Cole kicks off the inaugural season of the Autoimmune Ice Sports League.
Cole, 26, founded the league after being forced to drop her draft for the Portland Porcupines due to an autoimmune illness that sidelined her at the end of her junior year.
In the wake of that loss, she became determined to create a league that not only accommodated hockey players with autoimmune conditions, but empowered them to become the best athletes they could be.
What she never anticipated, however, was that she would end up doing so much more.
You might think the first thing I noticed when I pulled up to the POWER Ice Arena would be the bold, glowing orange signage, but what truly caught my eye was the sheer number of accessible parking spaces.
Under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), arenas are required to provide a 1:25 ratio of accessible spots to total spaces.
Most arenas meet that standard, but the POWER Ice Arena?
They’ve tripled it.
When asked about this particular accommodation, Cole’s response was straightforward:
"Disabled people support other disabled people," she said. "Not only do some of our athletes and staff use these spots, but we wanted to make sure everyone who wants to enjoy our arena has the chance to do so without being held back by the lack of accessible parking."
And that ethos is carried through the entire arena. The POWER Ice Arena isn't just ADA compliant. It sets new standards for what true inclusivity looks like in public spaces.
Take their new heating system, for example. People with autoimmune illnesses often find their symptoms exacerbated by the cold, so Cole was determined to create a warmer environment without risking the integrity of the ice. Her solution? Heated seats.
What started in cars and massage chairs has now found its way into ice arenas, and fans are absolutely loving it.
"I’ve never had anyone consider how environments like this can impact people like me," said one new fan. "For the first time, I actually feel seen."
One of the players for one of the league's four teams echoed that sentiment. "In addition to our heated gloves, the player benches are heated too," she explained. "It makes managing my Raynaud’s much easier.
But if you think the changes stop at heated gloves, you’re in for a surprise. I asked Darcy for a deeper dive into everything that makes Autoimmune Hockey both inclusive and unique. Here’s what she shared:
"Everything. All players wear vital monitors, which allows us to catch potential issues before they escalate. We also provide specialized orthopedic skates, gloves, and even undergarments designed with compression to improve blood flow. One common challenge with autoimmune illnesses is digestive issues, so we’ve built flexibility into the system.
Players can use the bathroom whenever they need, even during a game.
If they're up next, we have a teammate step in for them.
Our periods are also shorter, and we offer longer intermissions to help players rejuvenate and get the medical care they need between shifts.
I could keep going, but those are some of the biggest adjustments. "
Curious about how shorter playing times and longer intermissions might affect ticket sales, I asked Cole if she was concerned that fans wouldn’t be willing to pay for more downtime than ice time.
"If they want to watch sixty minutes of ice time with eighteen-minute intermissions, they can go to an NHL game," she said with a shrug. "This league is for everyone to enjoy, but it won’t be everyone's thing, and I get that. But I’m not going to sacrifice the health of my players for a bigger paycheck. That’s the whole point of this league.
All the info is on our website, and if they choose to come anyway and complain, they can f*** off.
" She continued, “We have plenty of concessions and entertainment during intermissions.”
The POWER Ice Arena concession stand prides itself on being fully accessible to people with a variety of dietary needs.
The staff undergoes comprehensive training on the dangers of cross-contamination, and there’s a dedicated kitchen for preparing gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options.
As for intermission entertainment, I had the privilege of sitting in on a practice session for the league’s ice skating team.
That’s right—the AISL isn’t just for hockey; it’s for skating too! During our interview, Cole also hinted at plans to add curling to the roster, though they’re still waiting on additional funding for that.
Which, of course, led me to ask the question we’re all thinking:
How on earth did she afford all of this?
"It started out as a coping mechanism," Cole explained. "When I moved back to Seattle after dropping off the team, I honestly never thought I’d play again."
When I asked what changed, she gave a small smile and replied, "I met someone." She was referring to her now-wife, Peyton Clarke, the starting center for the Portland Porcupines.
"[Peyton] showed me how to get back up. How to adapt, how to persevere. And that’s the reason this all exists.
" Her voice softened as she spoke about her wife. "When I told her about my idea, she shared it with her father, who’s a well-known figure in the hockey community. From there, it snowballed. This league has been in the works for years with the help of hockey players, agents, coaches, and fans who believe in it. I’ve never been more proud of what this community has built. "
The inaugural game for the AISL will take place at the POWER Ice Arena. Ticket sales are officially live, with limited availability. Don’t miss out! Click here to secure your spot for the game years in the making!