NAGANO, Japan -- "The biggest waste of time. Ever."

America probably thinks so, too.

With those six

Bill Guerin and Team USA repeatedly broke through the Czech defense only to be stopped by goaltender Dominik Hasek. (AP)

little words Keith Tkachuk summed up the humiliating Olympic experience of the greatest U.S. hockey team ever assembled.

Shut down by goaltending genius Dominik Hasek and caught out of position several times by an opportunistic Czech Republic team, the United States was eliminated from the quarterfinals with a 4-1 loss on Wednesday.

"I HATE TO BE NEGATIVE," said Tkachuk, the U.S. team's alternate captain, "but this is disgusting."

"Everybody's shocked and disappointed," said Mike Modano, the only U.S. player able to score in 39 shots on Hasek. "A lot of guys are frustrated, thinking it was a waste of time ... to come over here at all.

"I'm sure I'm going to be apologizing for a long time. I'm sure we're going to hear about it for a long time. That part is going to be tough to deal with. But what's done is done."

Six 50-goal scorers

CBS Sports video from the game:

Keith Tkachuk on Team USA's loss (ISDN | 28.8) Bill Guerin on U.S. strategy (ISDN | 28.8)

and 17 other NHL stars weren't enough to keep the United States from extending its record medal-less run to five Olympics. The U.S. team hasn't won so much as a bronze since the 1980 Miracle on Ice gang captured gold.

The Americans finished 1-3 in the Olympics' first "dream team" tournament featuring six nations stocked with NHL talent, and were outscored 12-4 by the only three good teams they faced.

THE LOSS CAME ONE DAY after the U.S. women's hockey team won the sport's first Olympic gold medal by beating Canada 3-1. Many of them were in the stands Wednesday to watch this game, and like most of the pro-American crowd at Big Hat Arena, they filed out in stunned silence when it ended.

"We had to play better in the preliminary round" to get a higher quarterfinal seed, U.S. captain Chris Chelios said. "We put ourselves in position to play against the best goaltender in the world. If we had finished higher and peppered Finland with (39) shots, I don't think we would have lost."

As the buzzer sounded, Tony Amonte broke his stick over the boards and flipped it onto the ice. Heads bowed, the Americans shook their opponents hands and dejectedly left the ice.

"We came here with expectations of gold," U.S. coach Ron Wilson said. "It's something that will always be in the back of your mind: What if. We feel we let a lot of people down, but more than any we let ourselves down."

While almost everyone considered the U.S. team a lock for a medal based upon its incredible talent and thrilling World Cup victory over Canada in 1996, few picked the Czech Republic as a serious gold medal contender.

BUT THE CZECHS ARE 3-1, their lone loss coming 2-1 to Russia in round-robin play. And with "The Dominator" in goal, they will be in every game.

"I've never seen a better goalie," Czech captain Vladimir Ruzicka said. "Some of the saves he made were unbelievable. His legs were going over here, his hands were going over there. He's the best goaltender in the world. We know we only have to score one or two goals."

Hasek, MVP in the NHL last season, has won three Vezina trophies as the league's top goalie. Using his unique, scrambling style, he has allowed only five goals in the Olympics.

Seeking its first medal since the split of Czechoslovakia after the 1992 Olympics, the Czech Republic advances to Friday's semifinals. Czechoslovakia won three silvers and three bronzes but never a gold.

"Our country needed that," said Jaromir Jagr, who had a goal and an assist. "But the U.S. has got to be upset that they didn't do better. There's so much pressure on them. Nobody expected them to lose. It's always better when you're playing with no pressure, when you can play for fun. We had nothing to lose."

RUZICKA ADDED A GOAL AND Martin Rucinsky broke the Americans' will with a late second-period goal that Mike Richter should have stopped. Jiri Dopita scored with 39 seconds to play.

After Rucinsky scored on his innocent-looking wrist shot from 40 feet, giving Hasek an insurmountable two-goal lead, Richter kicked the ice with his right skate and slammed his stick in disgust.

Wilson, loyal to Richter because of the goalie's incredible World Cup performance, kept the New York Rangers' star as the starter all tournament even though he wasn't at his best.

After Hasek

CBS Sports audio from the game:

USA's Mike Modano on: Facing Hasek Playing well in first period USA's Bill Guerin on: Third-period strategy

kept the game scoreless with three outstanding saves -- including an arm stop on a 10-footer by wide-open Brett Hull -- the Americans broke through at 16:12 when Modano chipped Amonte's pass over Hasek.

The Czechs responded by scoring three times in the second period, giving Hasek more than enough cushion.

AT 8:21, JAGR'S SHOT WENT WIDE, but Ruzicka hacked the rebound past Richter, who bobbled the puck into the net.

Just 58 seconds later, Jagr displayed the brilliant individual skill that has made him the NHL's highest-paid player. The Pittsburgh Penguins marvel stole the puck from Gary Suter on the right boards, stickhandled between two U.S. players into the slot and wristed a shot past Richter's stick side.

While Wilson nervously chewed his gum behind the bench, Jagr saluted at his teammates Denver Broncos-style.

Hasek's pad save on Tkachuk at 16:05 kept the Czechs ahead, and 30 seconds later Rucinsky beat Richter for the back-breaker.

Hasek made 15 more stops in the third period, including point-blank shots by Hull, Amonte and Brian Leetch.