NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wayne Gretzky knew about a betting ring at the center of an unfolding National Hockey League scandal, the New Jersey Star Ledger reported on Thursday, citing law enforcement sources.
Gretzky, whose wife, actress Janet Jones, has been implicated as a heavy bettor with the ring, has denied any involvement with the gambling operation.
The newspaper said secretly recorded phone calls revealed that Gretzky, a hockey hall of famer, knew about the ring. It said investigators were looking into whether he placed any wagers through Jones, who is believed to have bet $500,000 on games during the six-week state probe dubbed "Operation Slap Shot."
It cited investigators as saying there was no evidence Gretzky directly bet through the ring.
Rick Tocchet, an assistant coach under Gretzky, the head coach and part-owner of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, was charged earlier this week by New Jersey authorities with financing a multimillion-dollar gambling ring.
The ring took in more than $1.7 million in bets during the investigation, police said. State officials said they believed money was not wagered on hockey games, but rather on college and pro football and basketball games.
Tocchet met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Wednesday night in New York and was granted an indefinite leave of absence from his coaching duties with the Coyotes, the NHL said in a statement.
Tocchet, a four-time all-star in 18 seasons with six different NHL clubs, denied the charges in a statement issued late Wednesday by his lawyers.
"Mr. Tocchet intends to fight these charges with the same grit and resolve he displayed throughout his long and illustrious NHL career," the statement said.
The NHL said it would conduct an internal investigation into the Tocchet case to be run by Robert Cleary, a former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey who was lead prosecutor in the celebrated case against the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski.
"We view the charges against Mr. Tocchet in the most serious terms," Bettman said in the statement. "We have pledged our full cooperation to the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office."
The criminal complaint issued by New Jersey state police charged Tocchet with promoting gambling and money laundering and said the ring was linked to organized crime.
Charged as a co-partner with Tocchet was James Harney, an eight-year veteran of the New Jersey state police, and James Ulmer, who police said funneled wagers to Harney.
Tocchet and Ulmer could face five to 10 years in prison if convicted. Harney could face 20 or more years.
State police said that a number of NHL players and other celebrities bet through the ring.
"While there is speculation as to which other NHL personnel may have been involved in this matter, we continue to await guidance in that regard from the New Jersey law enforcement authorities," Bettman said.
Bettman said Tocchet was ordered to cease all contact and communication with all league and club personnel for the duration of his leave of absence, which would not end without the commissioner's consent.
Gretzky, whose wife, actress Janet Jones, has been implicated as a heavy bettor with the ring, has denied any involvement with the gambling operation.
The newspaper said secretly recorded phone calls revealed that Gretzky, a hockey hall of famer, knew about the ring. It said investigators were looking into whether he placed any wagers through Jones, who is believed to have bet $500,000 on games during the six-week state probe dubbed "Operation Slap Shot."
It cited investigators as saying there was no evidence Gretzky directly bet through the ring.
Rick Tocchet, an assistant coach under Gretzky, the head coach and part-owner of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, was charged earlier this week by New Jersey authorities with financing a multimillion-dollar gambling ring.
The ring took in more than $1.7 million in bets during the investigation, police said. State officials said they believed money was not wagered on hockey games, but rather on college and pro football and basketball games.
Tocchet met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Wednesday night in New York and was granted an indefinite leave of absence from his coaching duties with the Coyotes, the NHL said in a statement.
Tocchet, a four-time all-star in 18 seasons with six different NHL clubs, denied the charges in a statement issued late Wednesday by his lawyers.
"Mr. Tocchet intends to fight these charges with the same grit and resolve he displayed throughout his long and illustrious NHL career," the statement said.
The NHL said it would conduct an internal investigation into the Tocchet case to be run by Robert Cleary, a former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey who was lead prosecutor in the celebrated case against the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski.
"We view the charges against Mr. Tocchet in the most serious terms," Bettman said in the statement. "We have pledged our full cooperation to the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office."
The criminal complaint issued by New Jersey state police charged Tocchet with promoting gambling and money laundering and said the ring was linked to organized crime.
Charged as a co-partner with Tocchet was James Harney, an eight-year veteran of the New Jersey state police, and James Ulmer, who police said funneled wagers to Harney.
Tocchet and Ulmer could face five to 10 years in prison if convicted. Harney could face 20 or more years.
State police said that a number of NHL players and other celebrities bet through the ring.
"While there is speculation as to which other NHL personnel may have been involved in this matter, we continue to await guidance in that regard from the New Jersey law enforcement authorities," Bettman said.
Bettman said Tocchet was ordered to cease all contact and communication with all league and club personnel for the duration of his leave of absence, which would not end without the commissioner's consent.
