Canucks co-Owner & Chair Francesco Aquilini’s wife, Taliah, yesterday said that the couples’ divorce “will not hurt the operations of the hockey team,” according to David Ebner of the GLOBE & MAIL. Winning an order on irreconcilable differences “improved” her position as the two sides negotiate the division of assets. Taliah "spoke for the first time” about the divorce yesterday, releasing a statement through her lawyer saying she "has no intention of upsetting the operation of the Vancouver Canucks." She added she has "every confidence" in team management. Ebner reports while day-to-day operations of the club “are untouched by the divorce, the team and its arena will still play a central role in the proceedings.” Canucks Sports & Entertainment is owned by Aquilini Investment Group, “which is run by family patriarch Luigi, who is father to Francesco, his eldest son and Canucks chairman.” Francesco's younger brothers, Roberto and Paolo, also hold senior roles with the Canucks. It is “unclear who owns what stake, in terms of the team and the arena.” In the divorce case, “the two sides will debate what assets are at stake between Francesco and Taliah,” and a “final settlement could be in cash, or involve an actual stake in the team.” But “majority control of the team is not believed to be at stake” (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/4).
