After the 2002–03 NHL season ended, Carter was chosen to play Team Canada in the 2003 World Championships. After 14 minutes into the first overtime of the gold medal game against Sweden, Carter scored on Swedish goaltender Mikael Tellqvist with a wraparound goal. The goal was challenged for several minutes before the replays confirmed that Tellqvist had stopped the puck behind the goal line. The win gave Canada their first World Championship win in five years.