[bigboydan]

WebPosted Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:05:40 EST
CBC Sports
As the NHL continues to investigate an alleged gambling ring, commissioner Gary Bettman said on Tuesday that the affair hasn't hurt the league's reputation.


FROM MARCH 14, 2006: Injured Berard done for season

"What's becoming increasingly clear – and it was from the outset – is that this had nothing to do with hockey," Bettman said. "It has nothing to do with the integrity of our game."

Bettman made the comments at a business luncheon in Calgary, where he was to attend a triubte dinner for NHL board of governors chariman Harley Hotchkiss, a co-owner of the Calgary Flames.

In February, New Jersey state police accused Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet of providing financing for the alleged gambling ring.

Tocchet was given an indefinite leave of absence by Bettman, who hired former U.S. Attorney Robert Cleary to conduct an internal investigation for the NHL.

The Associated Press, quoting an unidentified source close to the investigation, reported that Wayne Gretzky's wife, Janet Jones, bet more than $100,000 U.S. on football.

It was also reported that several NHL players placed bets, though not on hockey. Authorities have said bettors did not break any laws.

Bettman said Tuesday that interviews are being conducted but "nothing new or dramatic which would any way implicate our game has been uncovered."

[Winston Smith]

The obvious here is that it's pretty difficult to make hockey less significant in the US sports arena.