Flyers' Carter has Team Canada's attention

"It's great. There's a lot of guys from our world junior team back in North Dakota when you look around," Carter said of the eight individuals who helped form arguably the most dominant junior team in tournament history.

"It's definitely exciting in that sense. It kind of shows the way Hockey Canada is developing their players and bringing guys up. A lot of good, young players have the potential to make this team."

Many think Carter has the potential to do just that, thanks to his inspired 46-goal season with the Flyers in 2008-09.

Quite a jump from the 29-tally, 53-point campaign the season before - one that wouldn't have put him on Team Canada's radar.

"Before last season, that's a long time ago. I wasn't even thinking about the Olympics back then," Carter said when asked whether he could have imagined being here before his big NHL breakout.

"But we all knew it was coming. Last year was a big year in showing them what I could do. It went pretty well for me."

That's an understatement from a 24-year-old center known more for letting his play on the ice do the talking.

"Somewhat quiet, I guess," said Flyers captain Mike Richards, another of the young guns who could crack Canada's lineup in February at the 2010 Vancouver Games. "I think he's more comfortable around different people. He's quiet, just kind of goes about his business.

"He's quiet on the ice until he scores three goals. He's a good player."

Steve Yzerman, Team Canada's executive director, knows it now, thanks to a goal total last season second only to Alex Ovechkin's 56.

"It was my fourth year in the league. I was just kind of rolling through the first few years and kind of building on it," Carter said.

"I had a pretty good opportunity [in Philadelphia]. They gave me a lot of chances, and I just kind of went with it."

Richards said he saw the breakout season coming.

"I don't know about that many goals, but I knew he was going to have a season like that sooner than later," Richard said. "He's got such a great shot. He's so big and fast that he creates so much space for himself. He's a natural goal scorer. He seems to score goals and find the net wherever he plays. He's a big body that can skate, so he's tough to handle."

Yzerman called Carter to let him know he was invited to Calgary this week a day before the roster was announced.

Carter, as you might imagine, was speechless.

"I was at the beach down in Jersey with all my buddies," Carter recalled. "It was definitely exciting. It's something you kind of work for. It's the first step in making the team."

The next step is starting his season the way he wrapped up the 82-game schedule rather than the playoff performance against Pittsburgh that was hindered by a separated right shoulder that has healed up fine during the summer.

With the addition of defenseman Chris Pronger and goaltender Ray Emery, Carter can't help but look forward to training camp next month.

"[General manager Paul Holmgren's] built a great team for us in Philly. It kind of shows, with so many of us getting invited to this camp," said Carter, who was joined by Richards, Pronger and Simon Gagne this week.

"It'll be exciting. Definitely looking forward to it."

Heading back to Philadelphia this weekend might be a bit of a step back in training after an up-tempo 4 days at the Saddledome under the guidance of Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock.

"This is totally different. We're going to be going back, we're still going to be playing pond hockey with the boys back in Philly," Carter said. "Maybe just the conditioning factor, stuff like that, gives you a bit of a head start." *