Sustaining a winning record doesn’t happen without a united, winning culture. The Whitecaps have this. The Canucks will need this.<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 04, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 11\u00a0minutes ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Between the noise around Mike Gillis<\/a> being a candidate to be the next president of the Toronto Maple Leafs with the associated remembrances of what made his Canucks teams tick, to Quinn Hughes<\/a> lamenting what was lost from the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> after the 2024 Stanley Cup playoff run and debating what Canada\u2019s men\u2019s FIFA World Cup squad will look like, the idea of culture seems to be everywhere I look this week.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Gillis\u2019 Canucks were a powerful unit on the ice because of the strength of their unity off-ice. They challenged each other, they set achievable standards of excellence and it was all possible, they\u2019ll all tell you, because of the productive relationship that existed not just between the players, but also between players and coaches. Everyone trusted that everyone else involved had the collective interest at heart, that true leadership is empowering everyone in the squad, no matter their role.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That\u2019s an ethos that was very true of the Canucks in the 2023-24 season, which Hughes touched on in an interview with The Athletic. And covering the team at the time, I can tell you that group, while not all friends as well now know, still had a strong culture that drove everything forward. The players had expectations for each other and also kept each other in check.<\/p>\n Where a strong culture comes from can be elusive, but there\u2019s no doubt that at its core is the players recognize what everyone is after, that even the most crusty players among them are on the same course.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n I spoke with some of the Vancouver Whitecaps about this recently. They were one of the best in North American soccer because of their talent but also because of the strength of their unity of purpose. If you\u2019ve ever been on a team with a truly strong culture you\u2019ve just known it. Everyone is dialed in. The egos are there but they\u2019re focused on the target, not distracted by whatever could distract them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is buddy-buddy but it\u2019s not just buddy-buddy, you know?\u201d Whitecaps strike Brian White told me about how his team\u2019s culture works. \u201cBut we also get on each other, if things aren\u2019t going well, if someone\u2019s not doing their job.\u201d<\/p>\n As a coach, you play a role too, Jesper Sorensen noted. You have to show the players respect by recognizing their efforts, be that in handing a depth player a deserved start or finding ways for your more experienced players to get bigger opportunities than they\u2019re already getting. The balance is obviously tricky, but a strong team culture will recognize what the coach is doing and that the player in question is getting a deserved reward.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI also have to to acknowledge that and put him on the pitch,\u201d Sorensen said of when a player has been performing in practice. \u201cOtherwise we kill what we do out here on the training ground.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s a lesson we probably don\u2019t think about enough: to be build resilience in your squad is to offer the ultimate reward and then actually provide it.<\/p>\n That\u2019s something to consider as we watch the young Canucks build to what they hope is future success: how are they building good habits in practice and how are those habits being recognized by the coaching staff?<\/p>\n The young guys<\/p>\n Let\u2019s close with a stat that deserves some though from Sportsnet: 15.7 per cent of the Canucks\u2019 points this season has come from rookies.<\/p>\n That the younger players have been putting up points is obviously a good thing, but also let\u2019s not overstate the percentage here. A percentage of very little can look impressive and the truth is the Canucks stumbled into this rebuild because they had to trade their best player and because they also weren\u2019t scoring enough and they were giving up too many goals.<\/p>\n If they\u2019d scored more goals they would have been from more experienced players, not rookies. The rookies are getting opportunity here because there are so few veterans left!<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks: Quinn Hughes is gone. We must understand why<\/p>\n![\"whitecaps\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/soc-mls-vancouver-20260320_302187968.jpg\")
Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White, top right. The Whitecaps were one of the best in North American soccer not only because of their talent but because of the strength of their unity of purpose. Photo by Amanda Loman \/APArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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In 2011 Vancouver Canucks\u2019 general manager Mike Gillis arrives at Vancouver International Airport for the flight to Boston after taking a 3-2 series lead against the Bruins in the Stanley Cup final. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO \/PNG<\/p>\n![\"Canucks](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-vs-canucksReport.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
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Brian White of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC celebrates with teammate Emmanuel Sabbi after scoring a goal as Devin Padelford of the Minnesota United reacts a game at B.C. Place in March. Photo by Rich Lam \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Quinn](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775342540_170_0403-col-canucks-1.jpg\")
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