Vancouver Canucks Revoke Reporter's Credentials After Critical Story

The team's owners, the Aquilini family, disputed the accuracy of the article about their US vineyard business.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:13pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and red, conveying the complex dynamics between a sports franchise and critical journalism.A cubist interpretation of the tensions between a sports team's ownership and the media's role in holding them accountable.Vancouver Today

A Vancouver hockey reporter, Trevor Beggs of Daily Hive, says his media credential was pulled during a Canucks game, one day after he published a story about the Aquilini family's US vineyard and its alleged labor issues. The team's owners disputed the accuracy of Beggs' article, which focused on the Aquilini Vineyards' links to Harvest Plus, a labor contractor under federal indictment over allegedly falsified visa documents for Mexican farm workers.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the tension between sports teams and critical media coverage, as well as the challenges journalists face in reporting on the business interests of team owners. It also raises questions about press freedom and the ability of reporters to hold powerful figures accountable without fear of retaliation.

The details

Beggs' article, which has since been pulled from the Daily Hive website, examined the Aquilini family's ownership of Aquilini Vineyards in Washington state and its connection to Harvest Plus, a labor contractor that is under federal indictment for allegedly falsifying visa documents for Mexican farm workers. The Aquilinis, who also own the Vancouver Canucks NHL team, disputed the accuracy of Beggs' reporting and said the article was framed in a "flippant" and "sensational" manner.

  • On March 30, 2026, Beggs published the article about the Aquilini family's vineyard business.
  • On March 31, 2026, Beggs' media credential was revoked, and he was kicked out of a Canucks game mid-way through.

The players

Trevor Beggs

A reporter for the Daily Hive in Vancouver who wrote a critical article about the Aquilini family's US vineyard business.

Aquilini family

The owners of the Vancouver Canucks NHL team, who also own Aquilini Vineyards in Washington state.

Patrick Johnston

The chair of the Vancouver chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, who criticized the Canucks' decision to revoke Beggs' media credential.

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What they’re saying

“I think I might be the only reporter who's been kicked out mid-game before. But you know what? It's part of life, man. It happens. It happens in the world of journalism.”

— Trevor Beggs, Reporter, Daily Hive

“This is an unprecedented act. I don't think reporters who are behaving in a responsible manner should be immediately expelled from the building just because you don't like a story.”

— Patrick Johnston, Chair, Vancouver chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association

What’s next

The Canucks organization has not indicated whether they will reinstate Beggs' media credential or address the concerns raised about press freedom and accountability. The federal indictment against Harvest Plus, the labor contractor linked to the Aquilini Vineyards, is also an ongoing legal matter that could lead to further reporting.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the delicate balance between sports teams, their powerful owners, and the media's role in scrutinizing their business practices. It serves as a cautionary tale about the risks journalists face when investigating the off-field activities of professional sports franchises and their leadership.