News

With little more than a month to go before his court date for sentencing on his conviction of gambling-related charges, exiled Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet is spending his idle time in Las Vegas ... gambling.

He's competing in the World Series of Poker.

Tocchet was reportedly still alive with a low chip count in the second round of the $10,000 (U.S.) buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold 'Em event yesterday in Las Vegas, where gambling is not illegal, competing in an eclectic field that includes Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and Celine Dion's husband and manager, René Angelil.

Along for the ride was Janet Jones, the wife of Wayne Gretzky, who had the Great One briefly in hot water last year when she was linked to placing bets with Tocchet's gambling ring.

Jones, who was not charged in the Tocchet investigation, bowed out early on the poker tournament's first day.

Tocchet, meanwhile, has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Aug. 17 and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine after pleading guilty to charges of third-degree conspiracy and third-degree promoting gambling.

The former National Hockey League player also has a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and league investigator Bob Cleary on the horizon — something that will go a long way to determining his future in hockey.

"I'm not really in a position to say what's going to happen until there's a complete disposition of his case," Bettman said when asked about Tocchet's status after the coach pleaded guilty to running a sports gambling ring. "Until our independent investigator has had an opportunity to interview him, finish interviewing some other people, and then present his report. At that point, I'll be in a position to make a determination in terms of what his status should or should not be."

Tocchet is on an indefinite leave of absence from the Coyotes.

With a report from Tim Wharnsby