An incredible honor has been awarded to Rivers School freshmen Carter Meyer ’28, Finn Sears ’28, and Sam Pandolfo ’28, who were selected to represent the United States as members of the elite USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) U-17 team. This prestigious selection placed them among the top young players in the country. And for this talented trio, it’s a dream years in the making.
Meyer, Sears, and Pandolfo have been nearly inseparable since they were eight years old, first skating with the Boston Junior Eagles before eventually reuniting at Rivers Middle School. Carter and Finn joined the school in sixth grade, with Sam coming aboard in eighth.
Just five games into that eighth-grade season, Head Coach Freddy Meyer saw the potential in their chemistry and placed them on the same line. The result was electric. Their combined skill and synergy quickly became a driving force behind the Boys’ Varsity Hockey team, propelling Rivers to a 19-10-1 record and a berth in the NEPSAC Small School title game.
This past winter, the trio continued to shine on the ice, skating together for the Red Wings. They were nothing short of dominant—combining for a staggering 159 points and helping lead Rivers to a 21-6-1 season, culminating in just the third NEPSAC Elite 8 appearance in school history.
Coach Meyer brings a wealth of experience and a unique personal connection to the story. A former member of the NTDP U-18 team in 1997–98, he went on to captain Boston University and log 281 games in the NHL with the Flyers, Coyotes, Islanders, and Thrashers. Now, with Carter’s selection to the NTDP, the Meyers become the first father-son duo to represent the program—a remarkable milestone for both the family and Rivers.
“I’m beyond proud of these three student-athletes,” said Coach Meyer. “They’ve worked incredibly hard to earn this opportunity and have truly maximized their time on and off the ice at Rivers. We can’t wait to follow their journeys and see what the future holds.”
