Canada was ousted from the world junior hockey championship at the quarterfinal stage with Thursday's last-minute 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic. That shambolic result followed another disastrous exit at the same stage to the same opponent at the same tournament 12 months ago.

Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond he’s ‘incredibly disappointed’ and ‘apologetic’ after Canada lost 4-3 to Czechia

The senior vice-president of hockey operations for Hockey Canada is taking responsibility for the country’s second straight quarterfinal loss to Czechia at the world junior championship.

Team USA's top line finally had the explosive game they've been waiting for, while Czechia held on to send Canada packing.

The winner will clinch the top seed and a Thursday quarterfinal meeting against Switzerland, the bottom seed in Group B. The loser could drop to third place behind Finland. The defending champion USA beat Germany and Latvia and lost to Finland in overtime.

The defending champion United States beat Switzerland 7-2 in the quarterfinals of the world junior hockey championship. It will face Czechia next.