The Carpenters, father and daughter, are both in the hockey news today.

The father, Bobby, now 46, has gone to work for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Much like a scout, but at a high level.

The 18-year NHL veteran out of St. John's Prep who earned three Stanley Cup rings with the New Jersey Devils accepted an offer from the new Toronto GM Brian Burke to handle evaluations in the Northeast for mostly American college players.

His prime responsibility in that role will be working with Toronto's Player Development department.

Bobby's talented 15-year-old daughter, Alex, is presently working out with the U.S. National women's hockey team in Blaine, Minn., and will be spending a week there, training with what is ostensibly the U.S. Olympic Team that will be competing at the next winter games in Vancouver.

"It's my understanding that Alex is one of 8-10 members from the Under 18 national team who were selected to help the nationals get ready for their upcoming tour," her Governor's Academy coach, Babe Ceglarski, said. "I think the younger players were invited mostly for scrimmage purposes. It probably serves as a two-fold thing. I would think these invitees are all on the (Olympic) radar screen."

The U.S. Nationals open up Sunday, opposing the Hockey East All-Stars at UNH in Durham, N.H.

Alex had to get special permission from Governor's for a week off from school.

"She went to all her teachers, got the assignments and did the work before she left," Ceglarski said. "How could she have a better experience?"

Meanwhile, Carpy has already started his new job.

He retired from the Devils' family to spend more time with his own family, wanting to see his three children grow up and assist his wife in raising them.

"I was kind of anxious to get working, but I told Brian (Burke) right away that I'm not available to do anything full-time. It's still a very young family. I do have some down time now because Alex isn't playing boys hockey anymore. It was a chance to do something connected with an NHL club. Brian is still new with the Leafs and still has appointments to make. I'm not sure how things will work out, but I did tell him that I'd be interested in a major role after the kids graduate from their high schools," the father said.

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Danvers' Mike Clifford played two minutes and was 0-for-2 from the floor in his varsity debut at the University of Buffalo in a one point loss to Vermont.

The Bishop Fenwick grad sat out an exhibition against Daemon College, an NAIA school in Buffalo, because of a sprained ankle, but was OK physically for the Vermont opener.

"Mike's in college now. He's young and has to learn the college game," Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "He got a lot of potential. He just has to get used to the pace. He has to get accustomed to playing against guys who are men. We have a couple of post players who are 24. He's played well and we're glad to have him. What do I see for him? I'd have to be a prophet to tell what he's going to do and how much he's going to do this or do that.

"Most of it is how you respond. Someone like Mike hasn't had to respond to things in the past, but he will, except it doesn't happen overnight."

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Salem State hockey coach Billy O'Neill starts his 29th season tonight when the Vikings host UMass Dartmouth at the O'Keefe Center (7). UMD just spanked Suffolk, 8-0.

Chris Harvey's SSC men's basketball team also plays its opener tonight at the O'Keefe, facing Springfield College (7).

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Danversite Brian St. Pierre, of the Arizona Cardinals, is suffering lower back nerve pain as a result of two bulging discs.

"I don't live in pain, but I'm discouraged by it," the reserve quarterback said. "I've had this condition for a long time, maybe from when I first came into the NFL. It seemed to get worse when our son Luke was born about seven months ago."

Asked if Luke looked like a quarterback of the future, Brian said, "Luke may not see a football."

Bill Kipouras is a staff writer at The Salem News. He can be reached at 978-338-2615 or by e-mail: bkipouras@salemnews.com.