Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini apologizes to fans in 15 heartfelt tweets

Francesco Aquilini is starting to get the hang of social media.

The Canucks owner took to Twitter on Monday to communicate with fans, after previously tweeting just 90 times since joining the social media platform in 2013. Aquilini sent out 15 tweets in seven minutes, reassuring the fanbase of the team’s future.

“This city deserves another run at the Stanley Cup,” Aquilini wrote in tweet 13 of 15.

The Canucks owner, who was not part of Monday’s end of season media availability that featured management and players, apologized and thanked fans for their support after missing the playoffs for a third straight season.

Promising a “younger team” next season, Aquilini added that a “well-coached, well-managed young team can mature and come together quickly.”

Time will tell with that statement.

Aquilini hasn’t had many media appearances of late, so his message was a rare chance for fans to see his point of view.

Here’s the full series of tweets:

Just want to add a few personal thoughts to what Trevor, Jim, Travis and the players said to the media this morning. 1/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

First of all, I want to thank all our loyal Canucks fans. 2/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

I also want to personally apologize to you, because I understand how disappointed you are with how the season went. 3/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

I know you’re disappointed, but, believe me, nobody is more disappointed than me! 4/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

Injuries played a role all year, but of course every team deals with injuries. As we build depth, we’ll handle them better. 5/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

This season our young players learned important lessons about how hard it is to win at the NHL level. 6/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

Now everybody in the organization needs to commit to the hard work and sacrifices needed to get better. 7/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

From me personally, from the ownership group on down, we all need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, how can I help this team get better. 8/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

It will happen. Late in the season we started to see the kind of team we are becoming—young, fast, gritty, all out hockey. 9/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

Without the Sedins, it’ll be very different next year. Their incredible skill, leadership and character can’t be replaced. 10/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

We’ll be a younger team, but a well-coached, well-managed young team can mature and come together quickly. 11/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

Look at Colorado and New Jersey this year, making the playoffs. Look at Arizona in the second half of the season. Look at our last 10 games. 12/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 9, 2018

Our goal is to be a perpetual contender. That journey starts right now. This city deserves another run at the Stanley Cup. 13/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 10, 2018

We’ve got the right management, first-rate coaching staff, and more great young talent than in a long time. 14/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 10, 2018

Thank you again for your support. It means everything to the players and everyone in the organization. We are all Canucks! 15/15

— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) April 10, 2018

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