Canada's world junior team focusing on discipline ahead of quarterfinals

Easton Cowan drove an opponent into the boards from behind.

Carson Rehkopf, Sam Dickinson, Sawyer Mynio, Tanner Molendyk and Luca Pinelli were among the other players to take undisciplined penalties in Canada's 4-1 loss to the United States on New Year's Eve at the world junior hockey championship.

The tournament hosts need to get the unnecessary infractions out of their game — and quick — with the knockout round looming.

Canada was whistled 11 times and allowed three goals on seven power-play opportunities against the Americans. The temperature inside Canadian Tire Centre was turned up in Tuesday's physical, chippy encounter.

One side handled the moment a lot better than the other.

"The good thing about the penalties is that they were so obvious there's no denying we can't take them," Canadian head coach Dave Cameron said. "Not at all happy with the penalties, but we took enough of them that it's pretty obvious we beat ourselves."

Cameron met with his players Wednesday afternoon to highlight what needs to change. It's no secret the International Ice Hockey Federation has a different officiating standard than the Canadian Hockey League.

The veteran coach wasn't interested in excuses.

"Those penalties have nothing to do with the referee," Cameron said.

"They might call a bit more," added Rehkopf, whistled for two minors Tuesday. "But at the end of the day we're taking penalties that are definitely avoidable."

Canada, which entered the U.S. game off a shocking 3-2 upset shootout loss to Latvia before an unconvincing 3-0 victory over Germany, killed off three power plays in the second period and scored one of its own on a man advantage early in the third to tie things 1-1.

But a Mynio cross-checking penalty led to Danny