Tocchet takes leave of absence from NHL
Rick Tocchet isn’t welcome in the NHL as long as he’s linked to a big-time gambling ring.
The former All-Star player who became Wayne Gretzky’s top assistant on the Phoenix Coyotes’ coaching staff was given an indefinite leave of absence Wednesday night by commissioner Gary Bettman. Tocchet’s departure came a day after he was accused of financing a nationwide gambling operation that took bets from about a half-dozen current players.
Tocchet met with Bettman and requested the leave, the NHL said. Terms of the leave include Tocchet being prohibited from communicating with NHL and team personnel for the length of his departure. Also, he’ll need Bettman’s consent before he can return, and the commissioner can change the terms of the leave at any time.
“ We view the charges against Mr. Tocchet in the most serious terms,” Bettman said in a statement. “We have pledged our full cooperation to the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
“ While we are conducting our own investigation, we have made clear to the law enforcement authorities in New Jersey that we will do nothing to interfere with their ongoing investigation.”
The NHL hired former federal prosecutor Robert J. Cleary, who headed the Unabomber case, to investigate Tocchet.
Tocchet came to the meeting with his new attorney, Kevin Marino, who called the pending charges against his client “false and irresponsible.”
In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Marino criticized State Police for speaking so extensively to the media.
“ I have never been involved in a case where the prosecution has engaged in such inappropriate conduct in terms of making investigators available to the press, appearing on nationally syndicated television,” Marino said. “It’s improper, it’s unwarranted and I will not tolerate it.”
“ We are not going to try this case in the press and we’re not going to let them either,” he said.
At his Wednesday meeting with the NHL, Tocchet wasn’t prepared to respond to specific questions about the allegations, the NHL said.
New Jersey authorities told the NHL on Wednesday that nothing has come to their attention that indicates the gambling activities relate in any way to league games. None of the players were identified in the complaint.
“ 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.
State police Col. Rick Fuentes said an investigation into the New Jersey-based ring discovered the processing of more than 1,000 wagers, exceeding $1.7 million, on professional and college sports, mostly football and basketball.
Pittsburgh’s Mark Recchi, a former teammate of Tocchet’s, forced a Philadelphia TV station to retract a story on its Web site that said he was connected to the ring. He and John LeClair, another Penguins player and past member of the Flyers, hired a lawyer to potentially sue the station and other media outlets.
“ Mark Recchi and John LeClair categorically deny any wrongdoing and are outraged that their names have been associated with the Operation Slap Shot investigation,” attorney Bob Del Greco said. “While each has maintained a personal and business relationship with their friend and former teammate Rick Tocchet, neither have any involvement whatsoever in any gambling operation.”
Recchi and LeClair said they haven’t been contacted by authorities and don’t expect to be.
New Jersey State Police Lt. Gerald Lewis said police investigators will interview other hockey players to get a sense of the scope of the gambling ring and to determine whether others should be charged.
Lewis would not say which players might be interviewed.
Gretzky’s wife, actress Janet Jones, was also implicated, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors have been publicly identified.