Culture.

It91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淐ulture to me is doing the right things every day - earning every day. We91裸聊视频檙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 that91裸聊视频檚 how you build culture. There is no entitlement 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 about earning. I call it the two E91裸聊视频檚. Either you91裸聊视频檙e going to be a team that91裸聊视频檚 entitled or team that earns it and I think we91裸聊视频檙e a team that wants to earn it every day,91裸聊视频� 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. It91裸聊视频檚 about constantly trying to find ways to improve through the 91裸聊视频榮taples91裸聊视频� 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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淔or sure, yeah,91裸聊视频� Brock Boeser replied when questioned about there being more accountability with Tocchet. 91裸聊视频淚n general, he91裸聊视频檚 not afraid of calling someone out if they91裸聊视频檙e not doing their job. That91裸聊视频檚 one of the things he said from the start is that there is going to be more accountability around here and he91裸聊视频檚 been good with that.91裸聊视频�

It91裸聊视频檚 something that Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has also noticed.

91裸聊视频淚 do (think there91裸聊视频檚 more). He91裸聊视频檚 so smart that he sees things that maybe other coaches would let slide. He91裸聊视频檚 really on the details. He91裸聊视频檚 not crazy about it and yelling at guys every meeting but he wants to work with the players. He doesn91裸聊视频檛 want to embarrass anyone. He just wants to teach and help us get the best out of each individual,91裸聊视频� Hughes stated.

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

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 not afraid to call someone out if they91裸聊视频檙e not doing their job. That91裸聊视频檚 one of the things that he said from the start - that there91裸聊视频檚 going to be more accountability around here. So he91裸聊视频檚 been good with that,91裸聊视频� said Boeser.

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

91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲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 that91裸聊视频檚 a positive sign - that they91裸聊视频檙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 there91裸聊视频檚 a little bit of a brush fire and the players can put it out. It doesn91裸聊视频檛 always have to be the coach. If you don91裸聊视频檛 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,91裸聊视频� said Tocchet

But building that culture doesn91裸聊视频檛 stop in Vancouver, it91裸聊视频檚 a focal point with the AHL farm team in Abbotsford and down the line according to Tocchet.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l actually take it a step further for you. I think that91裸聊视频檚 important that you know what is a Vancouver Canuck? What are our values? How do we practice? How do we play? What91裸聊视频檚 important to us? I think that91裸聊视频檚 really what it comes down to. It91裸聊视频檚 the (Mike) Komisareks, the (Chris) Higgins91裸聊视频� and the (Mikael) Samuelssons that are running our player development. They91裸聊视频檙e preaching what we91裸聊视频檙e talking about. And then all of a sudden, it91裸聊视频檚 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 don91裸聊视频檛 have a finished product, but at least you got some parts to work whereas sometimes you have an 18-year-old player that really hasn91裸聊视频檛 been taught and now you get him at 23 and you have to re-teach him things,91裸聊视频� explained Tocchet.

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

It91裸聊视频檚 easier to get players to buy in to your program when you91裸聊视频檙e winning 91裸聊视频� which is what the Canucks are doing now 91裸聊视频� 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 hasn91裸聊视频檛 gone unnoticed by his players.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a guy that91裸聊视频檚 been there and done it. He understands how the players might feel. He91裸聊视频檚 done everything we91裸聊视频檙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. He91裸聊视频檚 going to give the players the best opportunity to perform at their best,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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 toughness91裸聊视频�it91裸聊视频檚 going to get harder. If guys think it91裸聊视频檚 not going to get hard, well it91裸聊视频檚 going to get really hard. So we have to embrace that it91裸聊视频檚 going to get harder,91裸聊视频� 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 they91裸聊视频檙e building in that dressing room.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.