Charges in multimillion-dollar sport gambling ring

NEW YORK - An ice hockey assistant coach has been charged with helping finance a multimillion-dollar sports gambling ring, New Jersey authorities said today.

Phoenix Coyotes' Rick Tocchet, a former star player in the National Hockey League (NHL), was served with a criminal complaint in Arizona after an investigation dubbed "Operation Slap Shot".

The state police complaint said the ring's clientele included past and present professional athletes and Tocchet said the complaint involved betting on football games, not hockey.

The investigation also resulted in the arrest of a veteran New Jersey state trooper and another man, according to the New Jersey Attorney General Zulima Farber and state police.

The state police complaint said that in a 40-day period, the betting ring took more than 1000 wagers exceeding US$1.7 million ($2.5 million) on professional and collegiate sporting events.

"It's not a hockey-related issue. It's a football thing," Tocchet, 41, said today.

"And at this time, I can't really comment on anything further."

Tocchet, who played 18 years in the NHL with six different teams, was served with the complaint yesterday and is expected to come to New Jersey to answer charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, New Jersey police said.

Police said in addition to bookmaking and corruption charges, the investigation also revealed alleged ties to an organised crime group operating in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement: "We understand that Mr Tocchet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey.

"We take this issue very seriously and will monitor the proceedings closely."

James Harney, an eight-year veteran state trooper, and New Jersey resident James Ulmer, who allegedly served as a "sitter" who funneled wagers to Harney, also were arrested, police said.

Coyotes head coach and former NHL superstar Wayne Gretzky said: "Obviously we're concerned and obviously we feel bad. It's a situation that obviously concerns the organisation at this point. Other than that, hopefully things work out."

- REUTERS