Canucks won't be affected by owner's divorce: wife

The estranged wife of one the Vancouver Canucks' owners is reassuring fans that her divorce won't affect the day-to-day operations of the hockey team on the brink of a playoff run.

But Taliah Aquilini says she is proceeding with a valuation of all of Francesco Aquilini's assets, including the NHL team, which Forbes Magazine has estimated to be worth about $300 million.

"[Taliah Aquilini] has no intention of upsetting the operation of the Vancouver Canucks, and has every confidence in Mike Gillis and the management team," Taliah Aquilini's lawyer, Tracey Jackson, told CTV News in a statement.

"In accordance with the property division laws of British Columbia, she is pursuing her legal rights to her proper share of the assets of this family," she said.

The pair has been together for 20 years, Jackson said, and they separated in January 2011. She said her client is deeply saddened by the events that led to the divorce, but did not go into details.

"She is hopeful that they will be able to resolve their divorce in an amicable manner," Jackson said.

On March 16, Justice Loryl Russell of the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the couple had no reasonable prospect of reconciling, and triggered the next steps in a divorce proceeding.

In an interview at the time, Francesco Aquilini said that he did not believe the hockey team would be affected by the divorce proceeding.

"It's business as usual," he said.

Mr. Aquilini's lawyers had argued for a publication ban in the case as well, arguing the proceedings should be private to protect the four children in the marriage. Mr. Aquilini also has a child from a previous marriage.

The application was opposed by his estranged wife. In reasons for judgment made public Tuesday, Russell said the divorce proceeding should be public.

"It is clear to me that the principle of openness of the courts is an extremely important and key principle which we must keep in mind when we are looking at the kinds of balancing of interest which go on in these cases," the judge said.

Another divorce involving a professional sports team, the L.A. Dodgers, was a costly and nasty feud that eventually disrupted the team's payroll, tied up a TV licence agreement, and ended in a showdown in bankruptcy court.

Major League Baseball took over the Dodgers last year and the team is being auctioned off.