Team USA centre Derek Stepan say he hopes Phil Kessel “wasn’t disrespecting” the American team after its early elimination from the World Cup of Hockey.

The Americans lost 4-2 to Canada in a do-or-die game, and Kessel’s tweet was part of an onslaught of criticism on social media.

“I played with Phil in Sochi (at the last Olympic Games), I hope there’s no disrespect among players . . . I know the guys in our room don’t want to disrespect anyone else,” Stepan said.

“Of course, we’re aware of the (tweets), and that’s passion about American hockey, and I love that. But I don’t think our group looked at it (Kessel’s tweet) other than, hopefully, it wasn’t an attack. We don’t look at it as funny . . . we were stung (after the loss to Canada), so you hope there’s no disrespect, in all social media.”

Kessel’s tweet said: “Just sitting around the house tonight w my dog. Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldn’t put my finger on it.”

Kessel later told ESPN that his tweet wasn’t directed at U.S. players.

“Of course it wasn’t directed at the players,” Kessel wrote in a text. “I know how tough it is to play the game. It wasn’t directed at anyone.”

Kessel wasn’t invited to camp by USA Hockey, a move under scrutiny with the Americans scoring just twice in two games at the tournament. Kessel was coming off a Stanley Cup win with Pittsburgh, where he emerged as the team’s leading scorer in the post-season.

The U.S. also didn’t invite other top-shelf offensive players like Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Kyle Okposo of the Buffalo Sabres and opted for a gritty style of play.

Kessel’s tweet seemed confusing to some of the American players, given his recent surgery for a bone chip in his right hand, which he reportedly played with during Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup run.

“Didn’t Phil have surgery?,” forward Zach Parise questioned. “I don’t think he could have played . . . his tweet didn’t make sense.”

The U.S. plays Czech Republic in a meaningless game Thursday (8 p.m., Sportsnet) against Czech Republic to end the round-robin portion of the World Cup.

The American players collectively went out Tuesday night “for a few beverages,” according to forward David Backes, to discuss their team and performance.

Kessel’s tweet “will be remembered,” Backes said, adding that the reaction to the loss on social media was “disappointing” and “tasteless.”

The team had vowed before the tournament that this was their time to win. It was a firm belief, based on the roster playing together for the past six years, and reaching a peak for this tournament.

“Our group is disappointed,” Stepan said. “It stinks . . . it’s a difficult tournament if you lose your first game and you start chasing it.”

Asked if there was any second guessing the roster selection and coaching staff for the tournament — a popular theme in the media Wednesday — Stepan said it’s difficult for him to play general manager.

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Some suggested the U.S. roster was compromised by the tournament format, which had several excellent, under-23 American players like Auston Matthews and Seth Jones playing for Team North America.

“It’s tough for me to say anything and be a GM here. I will say I like the Team North America concept,” Stepan said. “I love our group, and I have nothing but respect for the players and our management staff.”

Stepan said it’s possible the younger U.S.-born players on Team North America could have given a much-needed spark to the American roster.

“Probably, yeah,” Stepan said. “When you get into NHL camps, it’s important to have that balance of young and old, and the young guys provide that spark. You can go and look at all the film you want, but in the moment, we didn’t have that spark that everyone is talking about.”

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