Team Canada names Joel Quenneville coach

CALGARY, Alberta, March 15 (UPI) -- Joel Quenneville, who last month was fired as coach of the St. Louis Blues, on Monday was named coach of Team Canada for the 2004 World Championship.

Quenneville was hired as Blues coach in January 1997 and guided them to five seasons of 90-plus points. He seemed on his way to a sixth straight playoff trip when St. Louis stormed to 20 wins in its first 30 games this season. But the Blues went 9-14-4-1 over the next two months, prompting his firing on Feb. 24.

Named the NHL's Coach of the Year in 2000, Quenneville compiled a 307-191-77-18 record with the Blues. The Blues were ousted by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of last season's playoffs after holding a 3-1 series lead.

The tournament will be held in the Czech Republic from April 24-May 9.