Wayne Gretzky says he remains committed to his post as executive director of Team Canada despite controversy over his wife's possible involvement in an alleged gambling ring.

A tired-looking Gretzky made the comments Thursday night after the Phoenix Coyotes lost 5-1 to the Dallas Stars.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I'm still going to coach the Phoenix Coyotes. I've done nothing wrong."

He said he is not involved with the betting allegations, has done nothing wrong and will still assume his duties as executive director with Team Canada.

"I'm going to Italy on Sunday. I'm going to be with Team Canada and be part of the Olympic Games."

Gretzky also said the past three days have taken a toll on him.

"I'm too tired emotionally and physically to talk about this anymore," Gretzky said.

His comments followed an earlier statement released by his wife, Janet Jones, that said she never placed a wager on her husband's behalf.

It was Jones' first statement since news broke about her possible involvement in an alleged gambling ring.

The gambling ring is alleged to have been organized and financed by the assistant coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, former NHL player Rick Tocchet.

Published reports have named Jones as one of those who is alleged to have bet on football games over the course of a police investigation by New Jersey authorities.

And another report in the Associated Press says Gretzky was allegedly heard on a wiretap talking to Tochett, discussing how his wife could avoid being implicated.

The brief statement Jones released Thursday night says nothing about the betting allegations against her:

"At no time did I ever place a wager on my husband's behalf. Other than the occasional horse race, my husband does not bet on any sport," Jones said in the statement.

A spokesperson for Jones said in a statement that she may be called as a witness before a grand jury in New Jersey.

"Janet is merely one of a number of witnesses and there is no allegation whatsoever that Janet has violated any law," said spokesperson Elliot Mintz in the statement.

Under U.S. law, placing bets is not a crime, unless one bettor brings others into the gambling ring.

The gambling scandal broke Tuesday when authorities laid charges against Tocchet, who until Tuesday was the assistant coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Gretzky lives in Phoenix with one son; Jones, a former movie star, lives in their Los Angeles home with their other four children. The couple married 18 years ago when Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers.

With the gambling scandal intensifying, there was talk in Turin that perhaps Gretzky should not go to the Olympics next week.

Before Thursday night's game Gretzky told Globe and Mail sports writer Dave Shoalts he would step down from his Team Canada role if he had done anything wrong.

"If I had ever bet so much as a penny on sports I would call (Hockey Canada President) Bob Nicholson and resign," Gretzky said.

This will be Gretzky's second time leading Team Canada to the Olympics. Under his management it won the gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002.

He also led Team Canada to victory over Finland in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Gretzky dismissed reports that investigators have wiretap recordings of him discussing the gambling ring with Tocchet before police went public about the investigation. He said he had no prior knowledge of Tocchet's alleged gambling involvement.

"If I did one thing that would embarrass Team Canada or the country or hockey I would resign," Gretzky told Shoalts. "It didn't happen."

Documents draw picture of wagers

Court documents reveal that the gambling ring allegedly connected to Rick Tocchet took $1 million US in bets in January alone, including on the Super Bowl.

The documents say the ring was allegedly headed up by James Harney, an eight-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police. They allege Tocchet rounded up the clients, who placed 594 wagers between Dec. 29, 2005, and Jan. 31, 2006.

Under New Jersey law, it is illegal to operate a gambling business for profit.

Police allege that at least six and up to 12 NHL players -- plus a coach and an owner -- bet through the ring, but stress that none of the alleged bets were placed on hockey games.

According to a report from The Associated Press, law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity indicated that Gretzky's wife was being investigated for allegedly placing bets in the gambling ring.

The Newark Star-Ledger reported Thursday morning that law enforcement sources told them that state wiretaps recorded Tocchet and Gretzky allegedly discussing the multimillion dollar gambling operation before it was dismantled.

There was no indication of what was said in the conversation, and according to those same law enforcement sources, there is no evidence that Gretzky made any bets.

During a news conference Tuesday night, Gretzky said he had no involvement or knowledge of the gambling ring.

"The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved," Gretzky said. "Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me."

Tocchet on leave

Tocchet has been granted a leave of absence from his job as an assistant coach for the Coyotes. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has reportedly put conditions on his leave; Tocchet cannot communicate with anyone linked to the NHL, and Bettman will have final say on when his leave of absence is up.

The commissioner also reserves the right to change the conditions of the leave of absence at any time.

Meanwhile, Tocchet's lawyer denies his client was financing a sports gambling ring or involved with organized crime.

"The allegation that Rick Tocchet financed an illegal gambling operation with organized crime is categorically false and irresponsible," said prominent Newark, N.J. attorney Kevin Marino in a statement issued Wednesday.

Police have charged Tocchet, and another man, James Al Ulmer, with money-laundering, promoting gambling and conspiracy. Ulmer has been released on bail. Tocchet is due to appear in court within days.

Harney, a friend of Tocchet's from Philadelphia, has been charged with money-laundering, conspiracy, official misconduct and promoting gambling. He has been released on bail.

According to court filings, Harney and Tocchet allegedly started their betting operation in 2001. It was based in New Jersey's Evesham Township. At the time, Harney was a state trooper and Tocchet was playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The pair reportedly became friends nearly a decade ago, when Harney was working as a bartender at a Holiday Inn bar frequented by Tocchet, who was playing for the Flyers, according to Captain Albert Della Fave of the New Jersey state police. The bar was near the Flyers' arena.

Police say the bar was frequented by members of the Bruno-Scarfo crime family, as well as Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino, who was convicted of racketeering in 2001.

Fave said that bets were placed on a variety of sports.

When asked if that included hockey, he said police were still investigating.

The RCMP has not yet been contacted for assistance, Fave said.

Meanwhile, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said they may re-evaluate their gambling policy in the near future.

That could depend in large part on the results of an investigation by the NHL, led by former federal prosecutor Robert Cleary.

As it stands now, NHL players cannot bet on hockey, but are allowed to make legal bets on other sports.

"I want to emphasize that we don't condone any form of illegal gambling. But when it comes to legalized gambling, the question is where do you draw the line? You are talking about limiting the rights of a hockey player to participate in a legal activity," Daly was quoted saying in the USA Today.