Mike Commodore gives his honest opinion about IIHF referees after Czechia kicks Canada out of World Juniors with 4-3 win

Mike Commodore shared his opinion after Canada’s 4-3 loss to Czechia at the World Juniors on Wednesday. The former NHL defenseman took to X and criticized some of the referees' decisions and said that Canada needed to play better.

"Folks…seen both clips now..5 min looked dicey to me first time seeing it full speed..replay I thought it was clean…2 min call end of game was bogus..but end of day can’t leave it up to the refs..especially IIHF..gotta play better. Tough tourney for (Canada)," Commodore tweeted on Friday.

Czechia eliminated Canada for the second year in a row. The referees' decisions drew criticism throughout Thursday's game. In the first period, Canada’s Cole Beaudoin was given a five-minute penalty and ejected for kneeing. Many, including Canada coach Dave Cameron, thought the punishment was too harsh.

“I didn’t think it was a five-minute penalty,” Cameron said after the game, via Ottawa Citizen, “Does it matter what I think?”

In another incident, no penalty was called when Gavin McKenna was hit into the boards late in the game. He was driven into the boards face-first with an elbow.

Despite these controversies, Canada tied the game with just over four minutes left. However, a kneeing penalty against Andrew Gibson in the final minute gave Czechia a power play. They scored the winning goal with 40 seconds remaining, ending Canada’s tournament.

Canada HC Dave Cameron's opinion on his team's loss to Czechia

Canada coach Dave Cameron discussed the loss to Czechia in the World Junior Championship quarterfinals. Adam Jecho scored the winning goal on a power play with 39.4 seconds left. Czechia’s Petr Sykora, Jakub Stancl and Eduard Sale also scored. Michael Hrabal made 29 saves.

Canada’s goals came from Tanner Howe, Porter Martone and Bradly Nadeau, who tied the game late. The team struggled with low shooting percentages and discipline issues throughout the tournament, including a 4-1 loss to the U.S.

“I think this tournament was exactly what I knew it was going to be coming in," Cameron said after the game, via The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. "It was going to be 3-4 teams that could win it, there was going to be no easy to win games, you’ve got to win those sudden death games. It just verified that that’s exactly what it is.”

Cameron also talked about canceled practices, the tournament’s tough competition and mentioned the players’ exhaustion.

“There’s no system for tired hockey players,” Cameron said.

This is Canada’s second straight quarterfinal exit. Czechia, last year’s silver medalist, moves on to face the United States in the semifinals.