BREAKING: Rick Tocchet faces gambling ring charges...

[SidDithers]

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, 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.

A person described as a ''movie celebrity'' also has been interviewed in the investigation, Fuentes said.

More here: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=153954&hubname=


This could be a big story, folks. Heard a NJ detective on Sports Radio on the way home tonight, who confirmed that this could go all the way back to when Tocchet played for Philly, and involves Mob connections in Philly and New Jersey. He also confirmed there will be more charges coming, to other "high profile" persons. And now that the FBI is involved, look for wire and mail fraud charges, cause those phone calls between Phoenix and New Jersy are a no-no.

Oh, and isn't Wayne Gretzky, coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, where Tocchet is an Assistant Coach, married to a "movie celebrity"?

Jersey DU'ers, keep an eye on this one.

Sid

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

1. Canadians should watch this, too.

Gretzky's managing our Olympic hockey team. If he or any of the players are involved in this, well, it's a bit late to make changes to the roster.

I'm too young to remember much of Wayne Gretzy the hockey player, but I'm familiar with Wayne Gretzky the corporate sell-out. If he or his wife decided to play Stupid Greedy Buggers, it wouldn't come as a surprise to me.

[SixStrings]

3. I agree. I mean, honestly, how much money is enough money?

At what point do some of these greedy, shallow people say 'enough - we just don't need anymore'?

I played hockey all my life at a high level and really admired Gretzky because we were both the same size and he was an amazing talent. But as the years went on, everytime I've seen his mug on TV selling this or that it infuriated me. Some people will peddle anything for a dollar.
I also find it amazing how the media is totally protecting Wayne on this. It is made clear on every report that it is 'Janet' and not 'Wayne', but c'mon, use a little common sense. Where'd she get the money? Police Academy 5? I don't think so...

[kick-ass-bob]

5. Gambling isn't about the money. It's the initial lure but it does not

continually feed the habit. Ask a gambler why he does it. If he has been doing it for a while, I guarantee the reason stated is not "money."

[ticapnews]

2. It is a terrible black eye for hockey

at a time when hockey doesn't need it. And it involves the man who is the face of hockey to most casual fans.

Gretzky came out and immediately declared Tocchet would continue to coach (and did last night) and kind of snickered when asked if his wife was involved in the gambling ring.

This goes back over 10 years, according to ESPN's Sal Palantonio, to when a mob boss was spotted sitting in Eric Lindros' seats during a Flyers game. The mob boss says he bought the tickets from a broker - which seems highly unlikely - and opens the door to speculation that the mob has been involved with the NHL in some capacity for a decade or more.

Very ugly. This is why I prefer the purity of my college game to that of the pros. :)

[SidDithers]

4. Update... Wayne Gretzky on tape talking about gambling ring...

wiretaps have Gretzky on tape talking about gambling ring, prior to it being shut down. Gretzky denied knowledge about the gambling ring during a press scrum yesterday.

Also, now being reported that Janet Gretzky wagered over $500,000 during the last 6 weeks with the gambling ring. Including winning $5000 on the coin toss.

Sid

Edit: Link to story in NJ Star Ledger
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1139473046103140.xml&coll=1

[jschurchin]

6. Could someone please........

tell me why a bookie getting busted is such a big deal. They have all admitted that they ran a gambling ring, mainly football, and that no one involved EVER took action (bets) on ice hockey. So what is the big deal?
If the party's owned a casino no one would even bat an eye, but because they ran an illegal operation, "Oh this is awful, terrible, a blackeye etc. etc. etc.".
A bookie and his crew got busted, period.

[SixStrings]

7. Well,

"tell me why a bookie getting busted is such a big deal."

The fact that they could of done this 'above board' is exactly why this is so heinous. They could of called any number of gambling operations, websites, etc and would of been totally legal. Why did they do this underground?

" They have all admitted that they ran a gambling ring, mainly football, and that no one involved EVER took action (bets) on ice hockey. So what is the big deal?"

Sure, and you believe what they say? All this inside info on injuries, who is in/out of line-ups, favored match-ups, etc. and you'll believe people who admittedly broke the law are going to tell the truth on this matter?

What I will agree with is the fact that the authorities are pissed they got cut out of the profits. That's probably the main force behind these allegations. But look at Gretzky...first he tells everyone he knows nothing about it, now he's caught on tape talking about it. I know people will argue semantics with what he said, but in my books he is looking very complicit. I hope the hammer falls.

[Cuauhtla]

8. Tocchet

As a Caps fan, I don't think there was anyone I disliked more in hockey than Tocchet in the 80s, when he was with the Flyers. Dale Hunter was worse, but he was on _our_ side.

Shame that the Gretzkys are caught up in this.

[jakefrep]

9. Umm...Gretzky was right...

according to this story released today:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/hockey/nhl/02/13/bc.hkn.gamblingbust.gre.ap/index.html

I'm not sure that Gretzky has ever done anything to warrant the level of cynicism that seems to be directed at him over this issue. (At least from the American media, the Canadian press has been much more circumspect)