"Zero accountability" "Should be fired": Hockey fans irate over Canada GM Peter Anholt's "not the only team that tries" statement after elimination

Hockey fans in Canada are lambasting Team Canada’s GM Peter Anholt after the nation was knocked out of the World Juniors by Czechia. Canada HC Dave Cameron has also been slammed by fans and analysts alike after Canada's quarterfinal loss.

Fans seemed particularly irate about a comment made by Anholt after the game. Anholt was asked who should be blamed for Canada being knocked out of the WJC. He replied:

"There's 4 or 5 teams that could win this tournament, and the other teams try to...we're not the only team that tries. I wouldn't make any changes on the lineups that we had and the personnel that we had."

Fans questioned the lack of accountability among the team management after this statement and called for the entire management to be fired.

“Seems fair. Good job then!” one user posted sarcastically.

“Just means he shouldn’t get to be GM again. Clearly f****d up picking team and coach and should just say it out loud,” another said.

“That is the complete arrogance of them. The team was poorly constructed and left significant assets off the team that would’ve benefitted the overall outcome,” one fan posted.

Other fans were focused on Anholt, saying he should be fired for making such a comment.

“He should've been fired the second that roster was finalized,” an X user said.

"He’s an old fool who’s well past his expiration date," one fan wrote.

Peter Anholt not the only one in hot water after Canada's exit

There was plenty of blame to go around after Canada's shock exit. Analysts, commentators and fans have criticized GM Peter Anholt, HC Dave Cameron and the team selection after Team Canada were knocked out in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.

NHL analyst Aaron Korolnek and Toronto Star columnist Dave Feschuk did not pull any punches while discussing the issue during the former's TSN podcast First Up. Korolnek called Canada’s performance “pathetic” and refused to accept any excuses.

“The fact that Canada lost to Czechia in back-to-back years in the quarter-finals of the World Juniors is unfathomable," Korolnek said. "I'm not trying to disrespect the Czechs who clearly have taken some serious strides in their program. But come on, that cannot happen. An embarrassment last night."

Czechia scored a power-play goal with 39.4 seconds left in the third period to beat Canada 4-3 and break Canadian fans' hearts.