The United States won back-to-back gold medals for the first time and host Canada lost for the second year in a row in the quarterfinals.

Canada forward Ethan Gauthier (20) sits on the bench alongside teammates Luca Pinelli (13) and Brayden Yager (11) during the third period of the world junior jockey championship quarter-final as they lose 4-3 to Czechia, in Ottawa, on Jan. 2. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond says “the buck stops” with him. The country’s men’s under-20 team was eliminated from the world junior hockey championship in the quarterfinals for a second-straight year Thursday.

Canada assembled a roster that left a boatload of offensive talent at home in favour of what was viewed by management as a more well-rounded roster — the results were disastrous.

The hockey powerhouse scored a paltry 13 goals in five games -- just two more than lowly Kazakhstan -- thanks to a tournament-worst 6.34 shooting percentage. Canada was also by far the most penalized team at the event and was short-handed 27 times.

The Americans avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in group play, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the second period to win their second straight junior worlds title and seventh overall.

The defending champion United States overcome a 3-1 deficit to beat Finland and win back-to-back world junior hockey gold medals for the first time.

Teddy Stiga’s OT goal means the U.S. will be defending back-to-back titles when the tournament is played in the Twin Cities in 2026.