GLENDALE, ARIZ. ? Wayne Gretzky’s wife and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets – but not on hockey – with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, authorities said Tuesday.

At the request of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Tocchet did not attend the Coyotes’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. In a statement, the Coyotes said Tocchet “was flying back East this evening to address the allegations in a meeting with Bettman.”

Gretzky, hockey’s greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team.

Actress-wife Janet Jones was among those implicated, two law enforcement officials told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors had been publicly identified.

Asked about her involvement, Gretzky laughed and said, “Oh really? I don’t know. You’d have to ask her that.”

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.

The developments came at a sensitive time for the NHL, which is trying to win back fans after a seasonlong lockout and just days before many of its best players will showcase their talent at the Turin Olympics.

Tocchet was served with a criminal complaint Monday and was expected to travel to New Jersey to answer charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, Fuentes said.

A criminal complaint informs Tocchet of authorities’ intention to formally charge him and the need for him to arrange to travel to New Jersey for formal charging, or face arrest.

“It’s not a hockey-related issue, it’s a football thing. And at this time I can’t comment any further,” Tocchet said after the Coyotes practiced earlier Tuesday.

Gretzky had said Tocchet would be on the bench for Tuesday night’s home game against Chicago, and it would be “business as usual.” But Bettman changed that plan.

“Everyone in the world is innocent until proven guilty,” Gretzky said. “He’s a great guy and a good friend. He’s just going through a tough time right now, obviously, and we’ve got to let it run its course. It’s a situation that’s obviously a concern for the organization at this point.”

The 41-year-old Tocchet played 18 years with six teams.