Culture.

It香蕉视频直播檚 a word that is used extensively in sports and in business.

There are different interpretations of it but when you ask Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet to come up with a definition, the response is a quick one.

香蕉视频直播淐ulture to me is doing the right things every day - earning every day. We香蕉视频直播檙e owed nothing and I feel the message that the players have bought into is that every day we have to earn our day. And that香蕉视频直播檚 how you build culture. There is no entitlement 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 about earning. I call it the two E香蕉视频直播檚. Either you香蕉视频直播檙e going to be a team that香蕉视频直播檚 entitled or team that earns it and I think we香蕉视频直播檙e a team that wants to earn it every day,香蕉视频直播� Tocchet explained after the game day skate prior to the contest against the St. Louis Blues at Rogers Arena on Friday night.

Building that culture is an ongoing process. Success, they say, is a journey and not a destination. It香蕉视频直播檚 about constantly trying to find ways to improve through the 香蕉视频直播榮taples香蕉视频直播� that Tocchet mentions on a regular basis - staples such as discipline, a consistent work ethic, attention to detail and holding one another accountable.

The good news is that the organization is trending in the right direction when it comes to building that culture.

Tocchet and his staff are holding players accountable to a level that wasn香蕉视频直播檛 seen with previous head coach Bruce Boudreau. As much as the players liked Boudreau, to a man they will agree that there is a different standard now.

香蕉视频直播淔or sure, yeah,香蕉视频直播� Brock Boeser replied when questioned about there being more accountability with Tocchet. 香蕉视频直播淚n general, he香蕉视频直播檚 not afraid of calling someone out if they香蕉视频直播檙e not doing their job. That香蕉视频直播檚 one of the things he said from the start is that there is going to be more accountability around here and he香蕉视频直播檚 been good with that.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 something that Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has also noticed.

香蕉视频直播淚 do (think there香蕉视频直播檚 more). He香蕉视频直播檚 so smart that he sees things that maybe other coaches would let slide. He香蕉视频直播檚 really on the details. He香蕉视频直播檚 not crazy about it and yelling at guys every meeting but he wants to work with the players. He doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want to embarrass anyone. He just wants to teach and help us get the best out of each individual,香蕉视频直播� Hughes stated.

Tocchet, however, will take more of a direct approach if needed to make sure his message is getting across.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 not afraid to call someone out if they香蕉视频直播檙e not doing their job. That香蕉视频直播檚 one of the things that he said from the start - that there香蕉视频直播檚 going to be more accountability around here. So he香蕉视频直播檚 been good with that,香蕉视频直播� said Boeser.

Better yet, Tocchet has communicated to his leadership group to hold the players accountable amongst themselves.

香蕉视频直播淲hen Rick came in last year, we started talking about that. Guys have become better with each other when it comes to communicating and talking about that aspect. I think we kind of set the standard and we want to continue to build on that,香蕉视频直播� noted Boeser.

For Tocchet, a positive sign in that regard was how the team responded to a lacklustre effort in a 2-0 loss in Philadelphia on their recent five-game road trip.

香蕉视频直播淲e stated the fact. The leadership group knew where we were at and they chipped away at it and I thought we got better each game (afterwards). To me that香蕉视频直播檚 a positive sign - that they香蕉视频直播檙e running the room and not the coaches. Obviously, we have to guide the team and do our thing but I really like it when there香蕉视频直播檚 a little bit of a brush fire and the players can put it out. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 always have to be the coach. If you don香蕉视频直播檛 put out those little fires, they become forest fires and I think our leadership group has done a nice job of getting to the problems before they get to me,香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet

But building that culture doesn香蕉视频直播檛 stop in Vancouver, it香蕉视频直播檚 a focal point with the AHL farm team in Abbotsford and down the line according to Tocchet.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l actually take it a step further for you. I think that香蕉视频直播檚 important that you know what is a Vancouver Canuck? What are our values? How do we practice? How do we play? What香蕉视频直播檚 important to us? I think that香蕉视频直播檚 really what it comes down to. It香蕉视频直播檚 the (Mike) Komisareks, the (Chris) Higgins香蕉视频直播� and the (Mikael) Samuelssons that are running our player development. They香蕉视频直播檙e preaching what we香蕉视频直播檙e talking about. And then all of a sudden, it香蕉视频直播檚 a conveyor belt. Now they go to Abbotsford where Jeremy Colliton, who is a great coach, takes it. So now they get to us. You don香蕉视频直播檛 have a finished product, but at least you got some parts to work whereas sometimes you have an 18-year-old player that really hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been taught and now you get him at 23 and you have to re-teach him things,香蕉视频直播� explained Tocchet.

Tocchet and his staff have a lot of currency with the players for a couple of reasons.

It香蕉视频直播檚 easier to get players to buy in to your program when you香蕉视频直播檙e winning 香蕉视频直播� which is what the Canucks are doing now 香蕉视频直播� because winning reinforces the process.

Then throw in the fact that Tocchet has three Stanley Cup rings to his credit and knows what it takes to win in the NHL, which is something that hasn香蕉视频直播檛 gone unnoticed by his players.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a guy that香蕉视频直播檚 been there and done it. He understands how the players might feel. He香蕉视频直播檚 done everything we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to do. He loves the game and has a lot of passion for it and understands at a high level. He has a high compete level and just wants to win. He香蕉视频直播檚 going to give the players the best opportunity to perform at their best,香蕉视频直播� said Hughes.

Despite the Canucks solid start to the season which saw the team improve to 5-2-0-0 after knocking off the Blues by a score of 5-0, life in the NHL is only going to get tougher according to Tocchet.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 great (the start). We all wanted it. I was just worried that guys would be too tight but I felt they were sticking with the process. The mental toughness香蕉视频直播�it香蕉视频直播檚 going to get harder. If guys think it香蕉视频直播檚 not going to get hard, well it香蕉视频直播檚 going to get really hard. So we have to embrace that it香蕉视频直播檚 going to get harder,香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet.

The good sign for the hockey club is that it appears to be better-equipped to handle the grind of an 82-game NHL season given what they香蕉视频直播檙e building in that dressing room.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 香蕉视频直播渢he Moj香蕉视频直播� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.