NHL to Investigate Betting Ring Case

Rocked by allegations that an NHL assistant coach headed a nationwide gambling ring, the league Wednesday took steps to learn the scope of the case, while authorities in New Jersey said the investigation was continuing and could result in more arrests.

The league hired Robert Cleary, a former U.S. attorney who prosecuted the Unabomber case, to conduct an internal investigation into the sports betting ring allegedly financed by Rick Tocchet, a Phoenix Coyote assistant coach.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman granted Tocchet’s request for an indefinite leave of absence, the league said Wednesday night, on the condition that Tocchet have no contact with league or team personnel. Tocchet was expected to report to New Jersey authorities for arraignment within seven to 10 days.

“While we are conducting our own investigation, we have made it clear to law enforcement authorities in New Jersey that we will do nothing to interfere with their ongoing investigation,” Bettman said in a statement.

Among those whose names have surfaced in the case are King forward Jeremy Roenick and actress Janet Jones, the wife of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, as well as other current and former players.

Roenick was notified Tuesday that investigators want to interview him, league sources said. He was unavailable for comment after Wednesday night’s game in Columbus.

Attempts to reach Jones were unsuccessful. Neither Jones nor any current player has been arrested or charged. Authorities say there is no indication that any bets were made on hockey games.

Authorities also reportedly want to question the Boston Bruins’ Travis Green. Former NHL defenseman Kevin Stevens also is believed to be on the interview list, a league source said.

“The investigation will go on for weeks,” said Capt. Albert Della Fave, a spokesman for the New Jersey state police. “Every person whoever placed a bet or is connected to the group will be interviewed during the course of the investigation.”

The case came to light Tuesday, just as the league was nearing a two-week break so some of its top players can compete in the Winter Olympics.

Authorities announced that they had arrested James J. Harney, a New Jersey state trooper, and another man, James Umbler. They said Tocchet, 41, would face charges of promoting gambling, conspiracy and money laundering.

Kevin Marino, the attorney representing Tocchet, said Wednesday the allegations are “categorically false and irresponsible.”

The gambling ring, which allegedly began in 2001, accepted nearly 600 bets and took in approximately $1.1 million from Dec. 29 through Jan. 31, authorities said.

The ring allegedly sprouted from a longtime friendship between Tocchet and Harney. The two met when Harney was a bartender at a Holiday Inn in Philadelphia and Tocchet played for the Flyers. Harney became a state trooper in 1997.

They ran the gambling operation for five years, according to arrest warrants. An investigation began in October after a tip, and police, using electronic surveillance and wiretaps, were able to piece together what they believe was an extensive operation.

“Most of the bets were taken by cellphone for pure convenience,” Della Fave said. “Harney did a lot of the legwork, taking wagers. Tocchet was the money man. He financed the operation. Money was flowing back and forth between them, not only to pay off winners, but to pay off Harney.”

According to investigators, bettors would sometimes mail money or checks directly to Harney, who Della Fave said owned two homes outright.

“They were profiting and profiting big time,” Della Fave said.

Investigators also uncovered ties to the Bruno-Scarfo crime family that operates in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey.

The Ducks’ Keith Carney, who played with Tocchet in Phoenix, said, “It is definitely shocking.... You just hope it’s not as worse as it sounds.”

Tocchet, who played 18 seasons in NHL, tapped into his NHL friends, investigators suspect.

He and Roenick played three seasons together in Phoenix.

In 2004 it was learned by police investigating the case that Roenick, then with the Philadelphia Flyers, paid more than $100,000 to a Florida firm that made millions selling betting tips to gamblers. There was no evidence that Roenick had bet on hockey games and he said at the time that had quit gambling “cold turkey.”

The Kings released a statement late Wednesday, saying that “since this issue is of a legal nature, it would be inappropriate to comment beyond the following: The Los Angeles Kings will monitor the situation closely and will cooperate if asked by law enforcement agencies.”

Tocchet played two seasons with Gretzky with the Kings and was hired as an assistant when Gretzky became the Coyotes’ coach this season. Tocchet was seen as being groomed to succeed Gretzky as coach.

Tocchet also played with Stevens in Pittsburgh for two seasons. One NHL longtime scout who asked not to be identified said that players in Pittsburgh were “big gamblers” during that time.

The New York Rangers’ Jaromir Jagr, who played 11 seasons in Pittsburgh, has previously acknowledged running up gambling debts totaling $950,000 with two Internet gambling sites from 1998 to 2002.

Gambling problems stretch back into NHL history. In 1948, Billy Taylor of the Rangers and Don Gallinger of the Bruins were banned for life for betting on NHL games.

The NHL holds security orientations once a season, with gambling being one of the topics. Players are not allowed to bet on hockey games or make illegal wagers. But the league does not prevent players from making legal bets on other sporting events.

The NBA, Major League Baseball and the NFL have similar policies.

Times staff writers Eric Stephens and Helene Elliott contributed to this report.