The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 29

THE WINDSOR it. STUD Taking the fifth Wings tie Leafs update Habs preview Local roundup Sports In Brief Harness racing Soccer scores D2 D2 D2 D5 D5 D7 D7 Team Canada's Joe Thornton gives a hug to Chris Phillips as they celebrate their World Junior Hockey Championship In Geneva. Canada beat the U.S. 2-0 to win their fifth consecutive tltle.Storles on page D3. Game summary on page D7.

Canadian Press photo: Ryan Remlorz Spitfires strafe Erie. See D2. Sports Editor MARK FALKNER 255-5769 Results line: 255-5747 'SECTION MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1996 Ss 7 i Mil) Sib i 7 7 7n J1 NHL Quenneville plans to boost Blues' defence Windsor native likened to baseballs La Russa The Associated Press I ST. LOUIS Windsor's Joel Quenneville, an assistant to Colorado coach Marc Crawford for three years, confirmed Sunday that he has been hired as the new head coach of the St. Louis Blues.

Quenneville, in an interview with KSDK-TV, said he'll be behind the St. Louis bench Tuesday night for a home game1 against the Edmonton Oilers. He was to be introduced during a news conference today "It's been tremendously exciting," said Quenneville, 38. "It certainly is a big challenge for me. DOWN AND OUT: Dallas receiver Michael Irvln lies on the ground after suffering a broken collar bone.

He was hurt after catching a pass during first-quarter action of his team's 26-17 playoff loss to Carolina In Charlotte, S.C. Irvln did not return. His replacement, Delon Sanders, also went out with an injury. Associated press photo: Doug miiis NFL saw ff MMft "I look forward to coming to St. Louis.

It should be a lot of fun. I want to be a hardworking club." Quenneville, whose playing career began with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires in 1975 and ended in 1991 following More NFL playoffs action D5 Joel Quenneville stints with Toronto, Colorado, New Jersey, Hartford and Washington, "We struggled all season and struggled today," said Emmitt Smith. Irvin, who missed the start of the season because of a drug suspension, cried as he hugged Dallas owner Jerry Jones, and mumbled, "I'm sorry I'm sorry" In the last 14 months, they've lost six players to drug suspensions. They came into Charlotte Sunday with Leon Lett still serving his suspension. Two others, Erik Williams and Irvin, are expected to be questioned by police investigating the alleged rape of a 23-year-old woman.

for 104 yards as the Panthers finished 9-0 at home. Irvin went out with an injured shoulder after Dallas's second offensive play. Sanders Irvin's replacement was hurt in the second half trying to catch a pass. "Still, we had our opportunities," Aikman said. "I missed some throws.

We had some throws dropped. We couldn't score touchdowns It was that way all year." Aikman said the Cowboys fared well considering the almost weekly distractions caused by allegations of drug use and violence against several players. The Associated Press That the Dallas Cowboys won't be winning another Super Bowl this year hardly seems surprising in this unusual NFL season. The Cowboys, winners of three of the last four Super Bowls, including last year, were beaten 26-17 Sunday by the second-year Carolina Panthers. Carolina is headed to Green Bay for the NFC Championship game Sunday.

"This is a humongous win for this whole program," linebacker Kevin Greene said. "We have a group of guys that has been committed and they believed in each other and that they would get the job done," coach Dom Capers added. Dallas, with stars Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders injured during the game, was undermanned against the upstart Panthers. It was left to quarterback Troy Aikman to carry them, and he just didn't have enough help, getting intercepted three times. John Kasay kicked four field goals, Kerry Collins threw for two touchdowns and Anthony Johnson rushed Steelers' swagger sparks Pats New England stands up to 'bully attitude' 1 111 dVl tim worked primarily with Colorado's defence and plans to do more of the same in "We hope to shore up that area here," he said.

Quenneville was the only candidate who had two interviews and the only candidate who met with team chairman Jerry Ritter. The other contender was Paul MacLean. Former Blues and Montreal coach Jacques Demers dropped out of the running last week. It has been 18 days since the Blues dismissed Mike Keenan. The team is 2-3-3 under interim coach Jimmy Roberts.

Ritter praised Quenneville after their meeting. "He reminds me of a young Tony La Russa," Ritter said in reference to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball manager. "He's very committed, dedicated and intense, but not Mike Keenan tense. "This is a good guy" Quenneville became Crawford's top assistant when Jacques Martin, a former Blues coach, left in the middle of last season to become the head coach in Ottawa.

Quenneville also was Crawford's assistant for two seasons with St. John's of the AHL, including one as player-coach in 1991-92. He has one year of experience as head coach, with Springfield, of the AHL. the home field for the AFC title game. And the Steelers, who had played host to the last two, were expecting it to be in Pittsburgh.

"They came in with the bully attitude," Patriots fullback Keith Byars said. "The way you treat a bully is, you come in and throw the first punch. And that's what we did." "Subconsciously, I'm sure everybody was excited about the possibility of us winning and bringing it back to Pittsburgh," Steelers safety Darren Perry said. The Steelers gave up three quick, big-play touchdowns including a 78-yard run by Curtis Martin. "We dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of," Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said.

"But we accomplished a lot during the Season." Associated Press FOXBORO, MASS. The New England Patriots haven't been at home for many playoff games. They liked it so much Sunday that they're going to try it again. "I want everybody in the same seats next week. Come on back.

Same place," coach Bill Parcells said after New England's 28-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers put the AFC title game in Foxboro. "Get here a little earlier. There's more on the line." In their second home playoff game in franchise history, the Patriots took a 21-0 lead over the defending AFC champions and held on to move within one victory of the Super Bowl. With Jacksonville's victory over Denver Saturday, the winner of Pittsburgh-New England was assured of If HUDDLE: New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells, left, hugs Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak after the Patriots beat the Steelers 28-3 ap photo NHL scores, standings D2 in a a a no KOTraJOMg ranir's mm Veterans Long, Cureton expected to help young Toronto players mature in NBA 1' -'J L) i Recovered from a knee Injury, Earl Cureton, 39, played six minutes In 118-74 loss to Detroit By Dave Waddell Star Sports Writer AUBURN HILLS An NBA lifestyle is fast-paced, but even veteran players John Long and Earl Cureton didn't expect to go from tourists to teammates in less than a week. Long and Cureton were heading to South Africa as part of Magic Johnson's touring all-stars when the call came from the Toronto Raptors: Head north old men.

The 39-year-old Cureton and the 40-year-old Long joined the Raptors in late November to give the youthful Raptors some veteran leadership. Between them, their combined NBA experience totals 24 years more than the entire Raptors' roster. "The league has changed quite a bit," said Long. "It wasn't like this when I was playing. "There are a lot of young guys in the league now and they don't play like we played.

That's why there's so many older guys still around in the league to try and teach the young guys how to play "They have a lot of growing up and maturing to do unless they were disciplined in college." However, both University of Detroit grads are impressed with the young Raptors. room. As a coach you don't always want to have to get on guys all the time. "The players respect John and Earl. They have fit right in.

When they speak, the young guys listen." Some criticism was heard when the Raptors signed the ancient warriors and it baffles Long. "I don't understand it," he said. "Robert Parish is older than me and he's still in the league." Cureton is especially delighted to be back. "I never thought I'd get to this level of basketball," he said. "A lot of people didn't even think I'd walk properly again I blew out the anterior cruciate ligament in my right knee in 1994 and I had some nerve damage.

"I know there's not a lot of minutes here for me, but there's an opportunity to contribute in other ways." A lot of what young players need to learn has nothing to do with the action on the court. "John and I lived the NBA lifestyle for a lot of years," Cureton said. "It's a tough league to survive in." It was particularly tough Saturday when the Pistons pasted Toronto 118-74 at the Palace. But there was one benefit. "I got to see a lot of my friends from old Piston days," Cureton said.

"That's why the crowd looked a lot older tonight." T2l More from Raptors' bench D5 VV irr Cureton. "They're willing to listen. They still are learning about the little things you need to do to win. "John and I can help point out those things. It's not that we know that much more, but we've seen that much more.

We've just got more experience." Raptors coach Darrell Walker is happy to draw upon that experience. "It's always good for a coach to have those kinds of players because it takes the pressure off," Walker said. "Sometimes you need to have a veteran player to police the dressing CLOCK TURNED BACK: John Long, 40, was playing with Maglo Johnson's all-stars when Toronto called "This team is extremely talented, said Star photos: Ted Rhodes.