Associated Press

2/7/2006 3:35:07 PM

EWING, N.J. (AP-CP) - Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet is accused of financing a U.S. sports gambling ring in which about a half-dozen current NHL players placed bets - but not on hockey - authorities said Tuesday.

New Jersey state police dubbed the investigation Operation Slap Shot.

Tocchet, a former NHL star, was served with a criminal complaint Monday and was expected to travel from his Arizona home to answer charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, state police Col. Rick Fuentes said.

Police said an investigation into the New Jersey-based ring discovered the processing of more than 1,000 wagers, exceeding $1.7 million US, on professional and college sports, mostly football and basketball, over 40 days in a ''highly organized sport betting system.'' Fuentes declined to identify the NHL players who made the wagers, but said none bet on hockey.

Related Info
Investigation could be NHL's worst nightmare
A person described as a ''movie celebrity'' also has been interviewed in the investigation, Fuentes said.


''Many of the (betting) ring's clientele included past and present professional athletes and celebrities who are being interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation,'' New Jersey state police said in a release under the headline: ''Operation Slap Shot Uncovers NHL Link.''

Tocchet said he would co-operate with the authorities but refused other comment.

''I feel bad for the Coyotes and stuff like that, but like I said, it's not a hockey-related issue and that's all I can comment,'' he told reporters after practice in Phoenix on Tuesday.

Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky said Tocchet would be behind the bench for Tuesday night's game against visiting Chicago.

''Obviously we're concerned and obviously we feel bad,'' Gretzky told reporters in Phoenix.

''Everyone in the world is innocent until proven guilty . . .'' he added. ''He's a great guy and he's a good friend. He's just going through a tough time right now. Obviously we've got to let it run its course.''

The news comes one week before Gretzky takes take the Canadian Olympic team to Turin for the Winter Games.

Authorities allege Tocchet and state police Trooper James J. Harney were partners in the operation, and that the ex-NHL forward provided the financing.

The NHL issued a statement Tuesday, saying it was monitoring the case.

''We have just become aware of the allegations against Mr. Tocchet and the possible involvement of some unnamed players,'' NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said.

''While we know little more than has been released publicly, we understand that Mr. Tocchet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey. And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct.

''With respect to the alleged conduct of the unnamed players, it is difficult to have any comment at this point, although everything we have heard, again, indicates it is not hockey-related.''

The NHL policy on gambling is ''no betting on hockey,'' a league spokesman said.

Tocchet, one of three associate coaches on the Coyotes' staff, took over the head coaching duties for 10 days in December while Gretzky was away to be with his dying mother.

Tocchet, 41, played 18 years with six NHL teams, including three seasons with the Coyotes from 1997 to 2000. He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers, from 1984 to 1992 and again in 2001-02. He is one of only two players in NHL history to record 400 career goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.

A native of Toronto, Tocchet was a junior star in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., before being drafted by Philadelphia 125th overall in 1983.

Harney, 40, was arrested Monday and has been suspended from the force. The eight-year police veteran was charged in an arrest warrant with official misconduct, promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy.

Another man accused of taking bets is James A. Ulmer, 40, who was charged with promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy.

Both men were free after posting 10 per cent of their bail. Harney had $100,000 bail; Ulmer had $50,000 bail. The two men are expected to be arraigned in state Superior Court in Burlington County within two weeks.

The state police investigation into the ring started in October 2005 after authorities received a tip. A trooper acting undercover was used to place bets, Fuentes said.

Fuentes said the hockey players bet on football and basketball games, not hockey.

The gambling ring had a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, he said.

Charges against more individuals are possible, Fuentes added

Feb 8, 11:17 AM (ET)

By BOB BAUM

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Rick Tocchet, Wayne Gretzky's close friend and top assistant coach, headed to New York to face NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after he was implicated as the financier of a nationwide sports betting ring.

In an investigation they called "Operation Slapshot," New Jersey authorities said several NHL players - and Gretzy's wife - were among those placing bets, although not on hockey.

Gretzky, revered as hockey's greatest player and now in his first season as Phoenix Coyotes coach, said he was unaware of any gambling accusations until Tocchet called him Monday night.

"The sad thing about this whole scenario is that Rick is a wonderful person and a great guy, so I hope everything works out in his favor," Gretzky said after his team's 3-1 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night. "It's hard because I love the guy. He's a great guy, you know. I just hope it all works out for him."

He said his wife, actress Janet Jones, would at some point discuss the allegations against her.

"First of all, my wife is my best friend," Gretzky said. "My love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved. Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me. ... I'm trying to figure it all out."

Two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors have been publicly identified, told The Associated Press that Gretzky's wife was among those implicated. Gretzky said his wife was in California and they talked, but she did not speak about her involvement.

"We didn't get into it other than she was concerned about Rick and she felt it was a tough situation with him," Gretzky said.

When asked if she had placed bets for him, Gretzky said "absolutely not." Except for trips to Las Vegas, Gretzky said he does not gamble.

State police Col. Rick Fuentes said an investigation into the New Jersey-based ring discovered the processing of more than 1,000 wagers, exceeding $1.7 million, on professional and college sports, mostly football and basketball.

The developments came at a sensitive time for the NHL, which is trying to win back fans after a season-long lockout and just days before many of its best players will showcase their talents at the Turin Olympics.

Tocchet was served with a criminal complaint Monday and was expected to travel to New Jersey to answer charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, Fuentes said.

A criminal complaint informs Tocchet of authorities' intention to formally charge him and the need for him to arrange to travel to New Jersey for charging, or face arrest.

"It's not a hockey-related issue, it's a football thing. And at this time, I can't comment any further," Tocchet said after the Coyotes practiced Tuesday.

Tocchet acknowledged that a New Jersey state trooper arrested in connection with the gambling ring case is his friend. Tocchet said he would cooperate with the investigation, but didn't answer when asked if he'd surrender to authorities.

"We understand that Mr. Tocchet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct."

Daly said the NHL was conducting its own investigation.

Authorities said Tocchet and state police Trooper James Harney were partners in the operation, with the former Philadelphia Flyers star providing the financing.

"Tocchet received illegal sports bets from wagers and funneled money back to New Jersey," Fuentes said.

Tocchet, one of three associate coaches on the Coyotes' staff, took over the head coaching duties for 10 days in December while Gretzky was with his dying mother.

The 41-year-old Tocchet played 18 years with six teams, including three seasons with the Coyotes from 1997-00. He's one of only four players in NHL history to collect 400 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. Tocchet was a fan favorite wherever he played, including two stints with the Flyers (1984-92, 2000-02).

"I think everybody is surprised," Flyers center Peter Forsberg said. "It's definitely not good for the sport to hear something like that."

Harney, 40, was arrested Monday and has been suspended from the force. The eight-year police veteran was charged in an arrest warrant with official misconduct, promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy. Another man accused of taking bets is James Ulmer, 40, who was charged with promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy.

Both men were free after posting 10 percent of their bail. Harney had $100,000 bail, Ulmer $50,000. The two were expected to be arraigned within two weeks.

The gambling ring had a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, Fuentes said. Starting Monday night, authorities seized property from Harney and Ulmer. State police seized $27,000 in currency, "voluminous" amounts of sports betting information and bank accounts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, Fuentes said.

They didnt bet on hockey my a** Thats how they got even after they lost on Baskets and foots, Baskets and foots with Tocchet and hockey with offshore and vegas.

goodbye hall of fame

Come back again and stay a while. I miss you. Really.

I hope they bet ALOT.

There is a lot more inside gambling in the sports world than is reported. Most people in the games are all aware what the spreads are , including the officials. Our nation and Canada has become infested by the gambling addiction. It started out with bingo at your local church's and some scattered horse racetracks around the country. Than the government got its fingers in it with numbers, lotto and scratch off tickets. Now everyone lives some where within driving distance of a casino and some form of slots, etc. You local faternal groups have casino nights. And the latest is the internet with its sportsbooks and on line casinos. . It's everywhere. I mean now everyone is gambling in some form or another. Does it really come as a big surprise to anyone that people in pro/ college sports are doing it. Not me. Its the American way. It's everywhere. One has to look no further than this last weekend to see it's involvement. It's getting so that an honest gambler is going to have a hard time finding an honest game to bet on.

You are so right Rags. Have an idea. How about you start a new sport...."sheep racing". A bunch of us here will invest, and before you know it we'll have a few leagues around the country. We can fix the games, and make millions! You can be in charge of naming the teams (Rams already taken though).

Well, some of us seem to have NO problem finding good games to bet on.

Maybe that is because we are not concerning ourselves with the possibility that one out of 1000 games might not be straight.

Gals...get a grip. Or get the h.e.l.l. out.

This constant yapping about games being fixed and all that c.r.a.p. is just that.....C.R.A.P.!

Dog

DD......get a little humor will ya. People like to talk about things. It's the last game of the year in NFL (pro bowl doesn't count), and several months to wait for next season. Just let people talk.....it ain't no big deal. Besides, you don't have to read these threads....just skip over them and go to the ones you have a real interest in.

You know what is really crap?? It's a guy who post alot of nothing here and very few picks and winners. You finally get a lucky win this weekend and ever since than you have put on a clinic on how to be a dumb a$$ poor winner. I understand that you have to make as much of you few wins you get here, but most of what ever you ever post here is BS crap complaining. i really feel sorry for you in a sick way. You need winners so bad that you even bet with your daughter and than take her money. What a piece of work you are. What type of MAN would take money from a little girl. You should do everyone here a favor and start showing everyone that you were not just lucky this weekend and can post winners all the time or just **** to Helll up. Get the picture?

How about from now on show us what a great capper you are and start posting winners all the time instead of just backing into one lucky game? Show us what a great smart gambler and capper you are. You bull$hip other posts are getting long and tiring. It's put up or shut up time. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PPOSTING WINNERS HERE.

How about swallowing a suppository for that severe case of diarrhea of the mouth you apparently have?

I beginning to think the only one who hasn't gotten over the SB is you.

RD,

If you go back and read some of DD posts you will see where he is coming from. Calling people puss ies, grow a penis and on and on. Really likes to talk down to people and try to be a bully. No place for that bullshi t here. Maybe in the marines, but not on this forum. If a guy loses on a game, he has a right to voice his opinion about the officiating, playcalling, coaching or whatever the hell he wants. I agree with you and you have made me plenty $$$ with your pix this year and that is obviously the bottom line as far as i am concerned. I havent heard you constantly bringing up the superbowl, but if anyone dare says one thing about it, dog becomes rabid.

TEX

well said devildog

people whine about games being fixed are just looking for excuses for their crappy handicapping skills.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/5318424