The Americans were simply outmuscled.

A heavy-hitting Canadian team ran over the United States Monday night, knocking the team coached by Keith Allain ’80 out of contention for the gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships by a 4–1 margin.

“We didn’t deserve to win this game,” Allain told Sports Illustrated after the game. “You usually get what you deserve.”

The smaller, quicker, Americans had no answer for Canada’s bruising play, which was exemplified by a hit by Buffalo Sabres draft pick Marcus Foligno that sent U.S. forward Brock Nelson sprawling over the boards into the Canadian bench. Canada took the lead 2:38 into the game and never relinquished it.

The loss means that Allain’s squad will take on Sweden in a contest for the bronze medal. Russia — which defeated Sweden in a shootout in the other semifinal — will face Canada for the gold. Both games will take place on Jan. 5.

Allain will be back with the No. 1 Yale men’s hockey team this weekend for the team’s games at Dartmouth and Harvard.