Just like when the puck drops on the center dot for any game he skates in, Ryan Shannon wondered what would be in store for his first ever “Big Assist” exhibition hockey game and fund-raiser for the Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation at Darien Ice Rink last night.

“We didn’t know what to expect coming into an inaugural event,” said Shannon of the event he and his dad Pat started, all to aid those living with spinal injury and disease. “And, from the decision to do it last summer, to putting everything into action, with the help of the Foundation, my father, Jamie Tropsa, all of the sponsors, it turned out to be a great event.”

The "Big Assist" exhibition hockey game scheduled for 7 p.m. July 1 at Darien Ice Rink has become a big hit and before even the first hit has been thrown, first shot taken.

This event has been sold out, according to organizers of the fund-raiser put on by Ottawa Senators winger Ryan Shannon of Darien and for the Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation in aid of those living with spinal cord injury and disease.

Six-hundred tickets and sponsorships have gone, sold under the wire of what had been originally expected to be a heavy door trade on the night, and that was, the expected limit.

"We don't want people needing to stand five deep from the glass in order to watch the game," head organizer of the event Pat Shannon said, leaving space for under 100 family, friends and media, with capacity for high school games set at about 800 spectators.

The tragic loss of Nashville Predators' affiliate Milwaukee Admirals winger Hugh Jessiman's mother, Laura, who died while the family was vacationing together in Scotland this week, will be recognized at "The Big Assist" exhibition hockey game at Darien Ice Rink on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

"The Big Assist" — with professionals headed up by the Ottawa Senators Ryan Shannon playing in a fund-raiser for the Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation — will mark the passing of Laura Jessiman with a moment of silence to start the match.

And by having the players wear a commemorative patch of a circle with her initials at its center printed at the shoulder of each of their jerseys.

The Jessimans are long-time residents of Darien.

Like those thousands who entered the Darien Ice Rink in August of 2007 to lay hands on the hallowed Stanley Cup, everyone attending Wednesday’s reprise benefit in aid of those with spinal injury will be touching much more than the ticket to this unique event, the door handle to DIR.

Nearly $20,000 was rung up by the Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation in ’07 to help ease the burdens of people living with spinal injury and spinal disease when Ryan Shannon, 26 of Darien, came back home with the Stanley Cup he won with the Anaheim Ducks that June.

Ryan Shannon’s boyhood dreams took him all the way to the NHL.

But on the first night of July icy universes will be reversed, when Shannon brings the NHL to Darien.

Stanley Cup winner with Anaheim in 2007, and Ottawa Senators winger Shannon is putting together one ice-hot exhibition game to take place at The Darien Ice Rink with the puck dropping at 7 p.m., Wednesday July 1.

UPDATED 12:30 p.m. June 26 — Capping a twin-crowns season winning both the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division I title as well — beating the rival New Canaan Rams in both finals in the bargain — Wave girls lacrosse coach Lisa Lindley was named a CIAC DI Coach of the Year recently.

The crowns circle Lindley's brow like Saturn's rings, this not being the first, or even second time she has been bestowed with league or state honors. She is a four-time such honoree.

Darien’s Kai Bjornstad’s Beachside soccer team has had a dream season. Or, maybe two.

Having had an undefeated fall season vs. CJSA Premier League competition, the Beachside U12 boys went 46-1 and are ranked No. 1 in Connecticut, in the top three regionally, and in the top 10 nationally.

Next up is the Regional Championship to be played in West Virginia next month.

Darien residents Marc Ioli (third from right) and Ben Lowden (second from left) pulled for Fairfield Prep at the US Rowing Youth National Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio recently.

Darienite Olivia Crane and Declan Whitmyer, both sailing with the Noroton Yacht Club, have been selected by US Sailing to compete in the national championships to be held in Greenwich this week.

Darien residents, Jen O’Neill and Dana McLachlin, and members of the nationally ranked New Canaan YMCA Aquianas Synchronized Swim Team take a moment from their season ending awards banquet to take it all in.

Left to right are O’Neill, McLachlin, Alice Chidley, Annabelle Schneider, Emily Roney, Lauren Mayhew, Adelie Tousignant and Ophelie Tousignant.

All will travel to the University of Florida in Gainesville to compete in the E-synchro U. S. National Age Group Championships this month.

O’Neill will continue on to Lima, Peru to compete in the 2009 Synchro Peru Aquatica Cup International event in July with competitors from all of the Americas, in the largest synchronized swimming competition in the hemisphere.