July 16 (Bloomberg) -- The Supreme Court of Canada upheld rulings that granted sole ownership of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks to Francesco Aquilini.

The nation’s highest court today denied without comment a request for a hearing by Aquilini’s former partners Ryan Beedie and Thomas Gaglardi, ending a five-year fight over ownership of the team.

Aquilini is managing director of Vancouver-based Aquilini Investment Group, a closely held real estate developer, restaurant operator and owner of the team.

Aquilini, Beedie and Gaglardi agreed in 2003 to bid for the Canucks. Beedie owns the Beedie Group, British Columbia’s biggest property-management company. Gaglardi is an owner of hotel and restaurant chains.

After their offers were rejected, Aquilini left the group and in November 2004 reached an agreement to buy the team on his own.

Beedie and Gaglardi sued, claiming Aquilini misused confidential information in making the deal to buy the team from John McCaw Jr., who ran Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment. Beedie and Gaglardi also claimed Orca Bay helped Aquilini breach his duty to them by secretly negotiating with him.

The relationship Beedie, Gaglardi and Aquilini had “was not one of partnership or joint venture,” British Columbia Supreme Court Judge Catherine Wedge said in January 2008. “Each was free to leave the group and pursue the opportunity on his own account, without regard to the others.”

Wedge’s decision followed a trial in Vancouver that spanned seven months. It was upheld by the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

The case is Between Blue Line Hockey Acquisition Co. and Francesco Aquilini, 33134, Supreme Court of Canada (Ottawa).

To contact the reporter on this story: Joe Schneider in Toronto at jschneider5@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 16, 2009 10:13 EDT