Operation Slapshot
Encyclopedia
Operation Slapshot is the code name
of an undercover police operation, spearheaded by New Jersey
state police
, against an illegal nationwide gambling ring.
, an assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes
, a team in the National Hockey League
, and Janet Jones
, the wife of ice hockey and NHL great Wayne Gretzky
, are among those currently under investigation or indicted with charges pertaining to the operation. Also under investigation is suspended state trooper James Harney, who was allegedly Tocchet's partner in the operation.
The investigation has also referred to the possibility of an NHL team owner, half a dozen active NHL players, and other coaches and team staff members being involved in this investigation. As of February 8, 2006, two more names have been mentioned as people who have been implicated by law enforcement officials: San Jose Sharks
center
Jeremy Roenick
, and Toronto Maple Leafs
center Travis Green
.
The ring has been mentioned to allegedly having ties to the Bruno-Scarfo crime family
, which has a base of operation in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and southern New Jersey.
On December 1, 2006, James Ulmer, 41, of Swedesboro, New Jersey
pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling and agreed to cooperate with authorities.
On May 25, 2007, Tocchet pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling and was was placed on probation for two years for his role in Operation Slapshot and avoided jail time. He will be allowed to return to active duty in February, provided he refrains from gambling in any way in the future. He must also submit himself to NHL-NHLPA doctors to see if he has an issue with compulsive gambling.
Code name
A code name or cryptonym is a word or name used clandestinely to refer to another name or word. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage...
of an undercover police operation, spearheaded by New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
state police
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
, against an illegal nationwide gambling ring.
Details
The operation was made public on February 6, 2006. Rick TocchetRick Tocchet
Richard Tocchet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes. He was most recently the head coach of the...
, an assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
, a team in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and Janet Jones
Janet Jones
Janet-Marie Gretzky is an American actress. She is married to ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky.-Entertainment career:Jones performed in Annie , Staying Alive and Snow White Live , and had a bit part in The Beastmaster...
, the wife of ice hockey and NHL great Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, are among those currently under investigation or indicted with charges pertaining to the operation. Also under investigation is suspended state trooper James Harney, who was allegedly Tocchet's partner in the operation.
The investigation has also referred to the possibility of an NHL team owner, half a dozen active NHL players, and other coaches and team staff members being involved in this investigation. As of February 8, 2006, two more names have been mentioned as people who have been implicated by law enforcement officials: San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Shaffer "J.R." Roenick is a former American professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League . He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks over the course of his 18 NHL...
, and Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
center Travis Green
Travis Green
Travis Vernon Green is a former NHL hockey player who played for 5 different NHL teams in his career.-Playing career:...
.
The ring has been mentioned to allegedly having ties to the Bruno-Scarfo crime family
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
, which has a base of operation in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and southern New Jersey.
Pleas and sentences
On August 3, 2006, former New Jersey state trooper James Harney pleaded guilty to conspiracy, promoting gambling and official misconduct, and promised to help authorities with their case against Tocchet and others. Harney said that he and Tocchet were 50–50 partners in the betting ring. Harney was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday August 3, 2007.On December 1, 2006, James Ulmer, 41, of Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling and agreed to cooperate with authorities.
On May 25, 2007, Tocchet pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling and was was placed on probation for two years for his role in Operation Slapshot and avoided jail time. He will be allowed to return to active duty in February, provided he refrains from gambling in any way in the future. He must also submit himself to NHL-NHLPA doctors to see if he has an issue with compulsive gambling.