Shamrocks Announce New Bench Staff

Matt Roik is a native of Dunnville, Ontario, where he first developed his love of the game playing minor lacrosse. He went on to play junior lacrosse with the St. Catharine's Athletics before relocating west for his final junior season with the Burnaby Lakers — a move that culminated in a Minto Cup MVP performance in 2000.

Roik was selected in the 1999 NLL Entry Draft and went on to play professionally with six franchises over his National Lacrosse League career: the New Jersey Storm, Anaheim Storm, Philadelphia Wings, Chicago Shamrox, Washington Stealth, San Jose Stealth, and Toronto Rock. His professional career was highlighted by an NLL Championship with the Washington Stealth in 2010.

At the Senior A level, Roik played for the New Westminster Salmonbellies from 2010 to 2014, as well as the Victoria Shamrocks — where he was part of Mann Cup championship teams in both 2003 and 2015.

Away from playing, Roik has dedicated himself to player development, coaching minor lacrosse through the New Westminster Salmonbellies organization, the Esquimalt Eagles organization, and the Delta Lacrosse organization, in addition to contributing to numerous lacrosse camps and programs throughout his career.

Off the lacrosse floor, Roik has built a career in the trades, spending over six years with the City of Victoria's Underground Construction department as a Utility Operator.

Noah Talbot is a native of Victoria, British Columbia and grew up playing minor lacrosse for the Juan de Fuca Whalers. He graduated to Junior and played 5 seasons for the Victoria Jr. A Shamrocks then played 2 seasons with the Victoria Sr. A Shamrocks and Nanaimo Sr. B Timbermen then earning a full-time roster spot with the Sr. A Shamrocks where he played 9 seasons winning a Mann Cup Championship in 2005.

Noah's National Lacrosse League experience began as a practice player with the Anaheim Storm before making the Arizona Sting roster in 2005 and then playing 6 seasons with the Minnesota Swarm. He played in 107 games; accumulating 3 goals, 30 assists 74 penalty minutes and 396 loose balls in his NLL career. His coaching career has seen him coach his children's teams in box lacrosse and field lacrosse in Surrey, BC., Saanich minor lacrosse and Pacific Rim Field Lacrosse.

Back in Victoria now for 6 years after moving to the mainland for a few years, he has re-established his roots in the Garden City. Now part owner of a growing consulting business, he spends his spare time at a field or box coaching or cheering on his children. Senior B was a very memorable time for him as a player and he's looking forward to coach with the Senior B Shamrocks this upcoming season.

Cory Conway is a native of Brentwood Bay, British Columbia and grew up playing minor lacrosse for the Peninsula Warrior. He graduated to Junior and played 2 seasons for the Victoria Intermediate "A" Shamrocks while also being utilized by the Victoria Junior "A" Shamrocks and then 3 full seasons for the Jr. A Shamrocks. Cory was then drafted by the Coquitlam Sr. A Adanacs playing 3 seasons on the mainland before being traded to the Nanaimo Timbermen for 1 season and then returning home with the Victoria Sr. A Shamrocks where he played 10 seasons over the course of his WLA career; winning a Mann Cup Championship in 2015.

Cory's National Lacrosse league experience began in 2008 where he played 9 seasons with the Portland Lumberjax, Colorado Mammoth, Calgary Roughnecks, Edmonton Rush and Vancouver Stealth. He played in 125 regular season and playoff games totaling 93 goals, 274 assists, 72 penalty minutes and 331 loose balls.

The past few years, Cory's focus has been on his son, his work and giving back to the community. He has coached and provided guidance to teams on the Peninsula in multiple sporting categories. He is looking forward to giving back to the community and the Shamrock organization teaming up with his previous Intermediate and Junior coach.

Darren Blackwell returns to the Sr. B Shamrocks after some openings in his 2026 calendar. Another native of Brentwood Bay, British Columbia; Darren spent his youth playing for Saanich and the Victoria Seaspray for box lacrosse. His junior career was spent with the Esquimalt Legion before graduating to senior lacrosse. He spent 9 seasons in 90's and 2002 for the Western Lacrosse Association's Victoria Shamrocks and the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association's Nanaimo Sr. B Timbermen combined.

Darren is married with two children and is a retired firefighter where he thrived in a team atmosphere. He gives back much of his spare time to local lacrosse and community activities; much of his recent summers has been coaching the Sr. B Shamrocks in the fall/winter he is coaching with the Pacific Rim Field Lacrosse Association. His favourite experiences these past few summers has been travelling to the mainland with BC Ferries!

Tyson Leies is also a native of Dunnville, Ontario where he grew up playing for the Dunnville Minor Lacrosse Association and then spent 5 years in Junior A lacrosse; 4 for the St. Catharine's Athletics (1986-88 & 90) and Esquimalt Legion (1989); winning a Minto Cup with the 1990 St. Catharine's Athletics. He was then recruited West by the Victoria Payless (now Shamrocks) where he had a storied career with the 'Rocks.

Having played 12 of 13 seasons with the Shamrocks; Leies played in 6 Mann Cups, winning 3 (1997, 1999 & 2003). He played in 336 WLA regular season and playoff games scoring 442 goals, 429 assists for 871 points with 1021 penalty minutes. His National Lacrosse League playing career consisted of 6 seasons over 11 years having played for the Buffalo Bandits, New York Saints, Vancouver Ravens and the Calgary Roughnecks, where he retired in 2004 with Calgary after winning the National Lacrosse League Championship under coach Chris Hall.

Leies has spent years coaching minor lacrosse with the Peninsula Warriors and Juna de Fuca Whalers as well as Senior lacrosse with the Victoria Intermediate "A" Shamrocks, Victoria Junior "A" Shamrocks, Nanaimo Junior "A" Timbermen and the Saanich Junior B Express. He and his wife Andrea operate the Saanich Junior B Express Lacrosse Club and he has been the General Manager of the Victoria Senior B Shamrocks going on his 4th season.

Leies was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in November of 2010 as a player.