After a two goal deficit in the first period, it looked like Cloquet-Esko-Carlton would run away with a win.

Just 40 minutes later, the Duluth Denfeld boy’s hockey team was on the winning end of a 5-4 heavyweight battle.

CEC scored in every period, with the first two goals of the game coming from Bobby Thornton.

In the second period, CEC extended their lead to 3-0 thanks to a shorthanded goal from Ethan Kilichowski.

Then, the Hunters found their grove, scoring two goals before the period ended to cut the lead down to just one goal. Braeden Erickson scored on the power play and Brady Wick added the second goal.

In the third period, Thornton would net his third goal of the game to extend the CEC lead to 4-2, but then the Hunters caught fire.

John Scott scored just six minutes into the period to make it 4-3, and then on the power play, Valtteri Luhtalampi tied the game at 4-4. Just two minutes after that goal, Luhtalampi followed up with the eventual game winner.

Orono will pay Duluth Denfeld a visit on Saturday while CEC will face off against East Grand Forks.