An undercover police operation, dubbed \’Operation Slap Shot\’, has busted a New Jersey-based bookmaking operation and indicated Rick Tocchet, the assistant coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, as the financier behind the gambling ring, which also involved a state police trooper and allegedly had links to organized crime.
Tocchet, accused of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, said during a 76-second news conference that it was “not a hockey-related issue.”
The 41-year-old played 18 years with six teams, including three seasons with the Coyotes from 1997 to 2000. He is one of only four players in NHL history to collect 400 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.
John Hagerty, a spokesman for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, confirmed that none of the betting was on hockey and that most of the illegal wagering was on professional and college football and basketball.
The State Police investigation paints a picture of a highly organized sport betting system, which during one 40-day period processed more than 1000 wagers worth $1.7 million. Many of the ring\’s clientele included current and former professional athletes and some celebrities who are being interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Associated Press reported that the ring included bets from Janet Jones, the actress who is the wife of Wayne Gretzky, considered hockey’s greatest player, and now in his first season as coach and part-owner of the Coyotes.
A deputy superintendent of investigations for the New Jersey State Police declined to confirm whether Ms. Gretzky placed any bets.
TSN of Canada said 12 National Hockey League players or people closely associated with NHL clubs, including a team owner, also placed bets with the illegal bookmaking operation.
The news comes at a sensitive time for the NHL, which is trying to recover from the damage to its image and to its fan base from the labour dispute that wiped out the 2004-05 season. Many of its best players are about to participate in the Winter Olympics in Turin and if any of them is named in the investigation, he could be barred from the competition.
“We have just become aware of the allegations against Mr. Tocchet and the possible involvement of some unnamed players. While we know little more than has been released publicly, we understand that Mr. Tocchet\’s conduct in no way involved betting on hockey,” said in a statement NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.
“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,” he added.
Daly also said the NHL was conducting its own internal investigation.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said none of the other NHL figures under investigation will be suspended immediately.
He said the league was only informed “within the last day” of the investigation by the New Jersey State Police and that he was not told who was accused, other than Tocchet.
“Once we have a definitive report, then we\’ll react,” said Bettman. “We\’re not going to react on the basis of half measures.”
Bettman also implied that unless anyone connected with the NHL is found to have bet on hockey games or was placing bets with an illegal bookmaker, they will not be punished.
“You\’re not supposed to be doing things that are illegal,” he said. “There is widespread legal gambling throughout the world, but the fact of the matter is bookmaking activities and other illegal conduct go beyond the pale. Obviously, to the extent that there\’s any gambling in any form, legal or otherwise, involving NHL games, that\’s a completely different story, although there appear to be no allegations here that NHL games have been implicated.”
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