SCENE & HEARD: Having shed his scruffy Al Pacino look for a more corporate image, Francesco Aquillini sat comfortably in a wingback chair Thursday afternoon accepting accolades at a BC Business Top 100 gathering at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

After lobbing a series of slo-pitch questions to Aquilini about his upbringing and family ties, Canada Wide Media host Peter Legge eventually got around to what the 1,000 found-ins really wanted to hear: An update on the Aquilini-owned Vancouver Canucks.

With recently anointed president of hockey operations Trevor Linden sitting in the front row, Aquilini won the crowd over when he said: “Winning a Stanley Cup is everything. If you don’t want to win the Stanley Cup, you shouldn’t own a team. I’m learning about the ups and downs of the business and realize the success of the hockey team is not in my control.”

Without mentioning names, that’s the closest Aquilini has ventured into admitting his contribution to the horror show produced by Mike Gillis and directed by John Tortorella last year.

“We just want Trevor to be what he is and who he is and leave it with him to put the best product possible on the ice,” Aquilini said.

At that point, a sigh of “Amen” seemed to drift through the room.

HERE ‘N’ THERE: Aquilini did show a sense of humour by telling the story about the afternoon of Sept. 15, 2004 when he was signing the papers for a 50 per cent purchase of the Canucks from previous owner John McCaw.

“We originally were talking about buying 20 per cent,” Francesco said. “Then we got a call from Mr. McCaw’ offering us 50 per cent. One thing led to another and the day we were in the lawyer’s office signing the documents for 50 per cent, I remember hearing a news bulletin on the big television screen behind me announcing that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was canceling the 2004-2005 season.

“Looking back, I guess you could say it was a bittersweet moment.”

SHORT HOPS: Glen Todd was a 2008 B.C. Sports Hall of Fame inductee in the Builders Category for his 1990s creation of Softball City in Surrey, home of annual international championship tournaments including the Canada Cup recognized around the world. Today Todd owns the largest stable of thoroughbreds at Hastings Racecourse and never tires of visiting the winners’ circle. Yet one of his biggest thrills in recent years was getting on stage with the Beach Boys last week at a private party and singing “Bar-Bar-Bar, Bar-Bar-Barbara-ann”. Jockey friend Mario Gutierrez has the performance on video, much to Todd’s chagrin.

END ZONE: After 20 years of coordinating the Jack Diamond Sports Personality Award for the Jewish Community annual dinner, lawyer Gary Cohen – a one-time rugby workhorse with the Meralomas - was recognized by his JCC peers last week with a special presentation. The 22nd annual JJC Dinner is down for February 5 at the Hyatt Regency.

drsport@telus.net