Culture.

It含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淐ulture to me is doing the right things every day - earning every day. We含羞草研究社檙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含羞草研究社檚 how you build culture. There is no entitlement 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 about earning. I call it the two E含羞草研究社檚. Either you含羞草研究社檙e going to be a team that含羞草研究社檚 entitled or team that earns it and I think we含羞草研究社檙e a team that wants to earn it every day,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 about constantly trying to find ways to improve through the 含羞草研究社榮taples含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淔or sure, yeah,含羞草研究社� Brock Boeser replied when questioned about there being more accountability with Tocchet. 含羞草研究社淚n general, he含羞草研究社檚 not afraid of calling someone out if they含羞草研究社檙e not doing their job. That含羞草研究社檚 one of the things he said from the start is that there is going to be more accountability around here and he含羞草研究社檚 been good with that.含羞草研究社�

It含羞草研究社檚 something that Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has also noticed.

含羞草研究社淚 do (think there含羞草研究社檚 more). He含羞草研究社檚 so smart that he sees things that maybe other coaches would let slide. He含羞草研究社檚 really on the details. He含羞草研究社檚 not crazy about it and yelling at guys every meeting but he wants to work with the players. He doesn含羞草研究社檛 want to embarrass anyone. He just wants to teach and help us get the best out of each individual,含羞草研究社� Hughes stated.

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

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 not afraid to call someone out if they含羞草研究社檙e not doing their job. That含羞草研究社檚 one of the things that he said from the start - that there含羞草研究社檚 going to be more accountability around here. So he含羞草研究社檚 been good with that,含羞草研究社� said Boeser.

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

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淲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含羞草研究社檚 a positive sign - that they含羞草研究社檙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含羞草研究社檚 a little bit of a brush fire and the players can put it out. It doesn含羞草研究社檛 always have to be the coach. If you don含羞草研究社檛 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,含羞草研究社� said Tocchet

But building that culture doesn含羞草研究社檛 stop in Vancouver, it含羞草研究社檚 a focal point with the AHL farm team in Abbotsford and down the line according to Tocchet.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l actually take it a step further for you. I think that含羞草研究社檚 important that you know what is a Vancouver Canuck? What are our values? How do we practice? How do we play? What含羞草研究社檚 important to us? I think that含羞草研究社檚 really what it comes down to. It含羞草研究社檚 the (Mike) Komisareks, the (Chris) Higgins含羞草研究社� and the (Mikael) Samuelssons that are running our player development. They含羞草研究社檙e preaching what we含羞草研究社檙e talking about. And then all of a sudden, it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檛 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含羞草研究社檛 been taught and now you get him at 23 and you have to re-teach him things,含羞草研究社� explained Tocchet.

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

It含羞草研究社檚 easier to get players to buy in to your program when you含羞草研究社檙e winning 含羞草研究社� which is what the Canucks are doing now 含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檛 gone unnoticed by his players.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 a guy that含羞草研究社檚 been there and done it. He understands how the players might feel. He含羞草研究社檚 done everything we含羞草研究社檙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含羞草研究社檚 going to give the players the best opportunity to perform at their best,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社�it含羞草研究社檚 going to get harder. If guys think it含羞草研究社檚 not going to get hard, well it含羞草研究社檚 going to get really hard. So we have to embrace that it含羞草研究社檚 going to get harder,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檙e building in that dressing room.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 含羞草研究社渢he Moj含羞草研究社� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.