It may have been only an exhibition, but Friday's season opener had its share of encouraging signs for Colorado College.

Fueled by Bill Sweatt's hat trick, the Tigers skated to a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over the University of Calgary at the World Arena.

CC rallied 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before sophomore winger David Civitarese scored the game winner midway through a three-goal third period.

And, until Sweatt tied the contest at 3:25 of that final frame, it looked like the visiting Dinos and senior goaltender Jeff Weber might make a pair of tallies by junior Brock Nixon stand up in the ninth all-time meeting between the teams.

But Colorado College save its best until last, getting eight saves from freshman Joe Howe down the stretch before icing the triumph on Sweatt's empty netter with 48 seconds left to play.

All three CC net minders played 20 minutes, with junior Tyler O'Brien making seven stops in the opening 20 minutes and freshman Hudson Stremmel making five in the middle frame. Each gave up a goal to Nixon, who was set up nicely both times.  

Sweatt scored his first goal on a quick wrist shot from the inside edge of the right faceoff circle after taking a pass from sophomore defenseman Mike Guentzel. His second came on a nice individual effort, as he cut in from the left side and beat Weber with a backhander from the slot while falling to the ice.

The Tigers officially open the 2009-10 season at home next weekend, taking on Hockey East power Northeastern University in a two-game non-conference series Friday and Saturday.