Heading into the 2026-27 season, Carter Meyer wanted to put himself in the best possible position to succeed as he prepares for the 2027 NHL Draft.
The 17-year-old centre went into his draft season ranked No. 3 on TSN’s pre-season draft ranking while TSN’s Director of Scouting Craig Button listed him at No. 4.
Meyer played last year as a member of the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), spending time with both the U17 and U18 teams. He dominated at the U17 level with 18 goals and 45 points in 41 games and added 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games at the U18 level.
However, the 6-foot-1 forward was also drafted 17th overall by the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in 2025 and the club made a big push for him to join the team for this year.
Meyer was impressed with the Remparts’ pitch and elected to come north for a season before fulfilling his commitment to Boston University in the NCAA for the 2027-28 campaign.
“This is the biggest year of my life so far,” Meyer told TSN earlier this season. “It was definitely a big decision but all the people in Quebec, with the facility and the way they run things, it makes it a place I want to be. With the atmosphere of the games here, it’s crazy. It’s basically pro hockey.”
The Winchester, Mass., native grew up as a Montreal Canadiens fan, despite his hometown’s proximity to the Boston Bruins. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was his favourite player growing up, but he compares his own game to San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning legend Nikita Kucherov.
Since joining the Remparts, Meyer’s playmaking ability has been on full display with 12 assists to go along with five goals in 15 games this season. He has his Remparts in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-4-1 record.
Meyer heard differing opinions about how challenging the jump to the QMJHL would be, but he has been extremely impressed with the physicality and the amount of skill that the league has to offer.
“Before I came here, there were rumours that [the QMJHL] was kind of a soft league that focuses on soft skills,” Meyer said. “But it’s definitely a physical league and I’ve seen that early on, especially in the first couple of games. Just seeing how the defence is with finishing checks, hard box outs, stuff like that.
“People kept saying it’s a soft league, but it’s really not. It’s super physical with such high-end players.”
On top of adjusting on the ice, Meyer had to make adjustments off the ice by leaving the United States to play in Canada. He has enjoyed the local culture and architecture in and around Quebec City and is looking forward to his first winter and the festivals the city is known for.
Meyer is still finishing his high school degree online and has experienced first-hand what it means to play hockey at a high level in Canada since joining the Remparts.
“It’s awesome, I can go get ice cream or whatever and there will be somebody asking if I play for the Remparts,” said Meyer. “That’s how involved everyone is here and how much they care about our success. I’ve never experienced that before and it’s been awesome.”
In leaving the NTDP, Meyer had to split up with former teammates Sam Pandalfo and Finn Sears, whom he had played with for the majority of his hockey life. He says he played with them since they were kids and all through high school. They stayed with the NTDP as part of the U18 team, and he remains very close with the pair.
But heading north gave Meyer the opportunity to play with his brother, Freddy, who joined the Remparts last season.
Freddy Meyer, a 5-foot-10, left-shot defenceman, registered two goals and 17 points in 58 games last season with a minus-5 rating. He has two assists in 10 games so far this season.
“Anytime you can play with your brother at any level of hockey is great, but getting to do it here, away from home, continuing to grow up and play hockey at a high level, it’s as good as anything I can dream of,” said Meyer.
“I think if I told myself this when I was little, I probably wouldn’t really believe it just because of how hard it is for both of us to get to this level.”
Meyer will have an opportunity to play against his former team at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge when Team CHL will battle the NTDP’s U18 squad. The tournament will be hosted by the QMJHL in Chicoutimi on Dec. 1 and Meyer’s home rink in Quebec City on Dec. 2.
Meyer was one of the first four players to be selected to Team CHL along with Alexis Joseph of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Brock England of the Seattle Thunderbirds, and Dima Zhilkin of the Saginaw Spirit.
He is looking forward to the opportunity to measure himself against the top NHL-eligible prospects from the CHL and seeing some of his old teammates again.
“It’s such a great honour to be one of the first four selected to the team, especially after making the switch to the CHL,” said Meyer. “You’re going to see all the guys that you’re competing with for the NHL draft, but you can also pick things up from them, so it’s a super cool opportunity.
“It’ll [also] be the first time that I see [my former NTDP teammates], so there’s probably some mixed opinions about [me coming up here]. But I’m close to a lot of guys from that team, so I’ll be super excited to see them.”
The Remparts are projected to be one of the main contenders to win the Gilles-Courteau Trophy this season and represent the QMJHL at the Memorial Cup in Guelph.
The team features players like St. Louis Blues 2026 first-round pick Maddox Dagenais, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nathan Quinn, and Winnipeg Jets draft pick Alexandre Taillefer.
Meyer is also joined by fellow 2027 NHL Draft-eligible forward James Scantlebury, who leads the team with 12 goals and 24 points in 15 games while goaltender Patrick Déniger sits fourth in the QMJHL, going 7-3-1 record with a 2.37 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.
Quebec’s chance to have a successful season was one of the reasons Meyer made the jump to the QMJHL and believes his team is good and deep enough in every position to have a shot at a championship.
“I think we have a good, deep team, with really good goaltending and defence,” said Meyer. “We’re coached so well that I have no doubts about it and as a team, we’re trying to get better each day and develop the chemistry we need.
“I think having the opportunity to win a Gilles-Courteau Trophy was a big reason why I did come up here. Just to have the chance to compete for something like that with one of the top teams. It’s something that is on our minds and it’s something that we want to do everything we can to accomplish.
“To win a championship in my first year would be a very cool and sick way to end the year.”