RAYNHAM – Who said it does not matter who wins on All-Star Weekend?

Certainly not the 2015 New England Future Stars Peewee Division All-Star selections.

Because of the fierce competition both the Peewee Skills Challenge and All-Star Game at this past Saturday’s All-Star Weekend festivities at the Raynham IcePlex needed extra time before winners could be determined. Those distinctions going to the Marlboro Thunder and the Black All-Stars, both by the narrowest of margins.

0:00.03.

That is all that separated the Thunder from those standing outside the Winner’s Circle; Sabrina Ferro, Joshua Tisdell and Luke Holyfield standing atop the podium.

The Thunder, with a third place finish in the Team Relay and a win in the Agility Race, were tied with the Norfolk County Hawks, who had a pair of second place finishes, following the Skills Challenge’s three events. To break the tie, a one lap, Fastest Skater race was added to decide.

Marlboro completed their lap in a time of 0:17.93, a photo finish ahead of Norfolk County’s 0:17.96.

The Central Mass Cobras, Raynham Raiders and Boston Brahmas finished the Skills Challenge tied for third place.

As an extra event was needed to settle the Skills Challenge, the Peewee All-Star Game was no different, a shootout needed to decide Black’s 6-5 victory.

The game was tight as the goals piled up in the first half. It appeared as though it would reach halftime tied 3-3, but Hawks forward Michael Cataldo netted his second of the contest with just 33-seconds remaining to give White a 4-3 lead at the break.

White lost their lead on a goal by Max Shustak of the Cobras early in the second half, but regained it near the 10-mintue mark on a goal by Hawks forward Christian Shabbick, his second of the game. Black, however, remained undeterred despite trailing for much of the second half and eventually drew back to even with about seven minutes to play in regulation as Ben Sarantopoulos of the Raiders scored his second penalty shot goal of the game to set the score at 5-5.

With the score still tied at the end of regulation, the game went to a three round shootout to decide the winner. Tied 1-1 after the first round, Declan Loughnane of the North Shore Stingrays and White All-Stars led off the second round. Loughnane broke off a shot that got behind netminder Gavin Whitcomb of the Cobras, but rung the post and stayed out of the net.

Raiders forward Nick Blonde, shooting second for Black, capitalized on his chance to give his side the lead, patiently out waiting goaltender Aidan Britt before putting away a goal for the 2-1 lead through two rounds. Whitcomb backed up his Black teammate’s effort, shutting the door on White’s third bid and securing the 6-5 victory.

Credited with the game-winning goal in the shootout, as well as a goal and an assist in regulation, Blonde was tabbed as First Star of the Game. Henry Wilson of the Stingrays and White All-Stars was named Second Star, while Whitcomb garnered Third Star accolades for his play in the second half and in the shootout.