Val Roche was the father of lacrosse in the North Burnaby, British Columbia, area.

A dedicated person, he used the quiet approach to organize and promote the game he loved. He was the type of person who would do any job required, including digging into his own pocket to buy equipment if the need arose. A school teacher by profession and later a newspaper man he influenced many a youngster during his formative years.

A true "major leaguer in minor athletics", as he was called by columnist Dick Beddoes, Val devoted over '5 years of his life to minor lacrosse.