Former Vipers Trainer Auerbach Named To Canada's Under-20 National Junior Team:

Former Vernon Vipers trainer Matt Auerbach has been named to Canada's Under-20 National Junior Hockey Team.

Auerbach was a trainer with the Vernon Vipers back in the late 90's was also with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs before making the jump in 2006 for the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins.   Auerbach has spent the past nine seasons with the Bruins & Victoria Royals.

This is posted on the Royals website:

ROYALS’ TRIO NAMED TO STAFF FOR HOCKEY CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR PROGRAMS

 Jul 06, 2015 

Victoria’s Head Equipment Manager, Athletic Therapist & Medical Director to work for national junior teams in upcoming tournaments.

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 6, 2015

Victoria, BC- The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that Head Equipment Manager Matt Auerbach (Under-20), Athletic Therapist Khore Elliott (Under-18) and Medical Director Dr. Michael Conrad (Under-17) have been named as staff members for three of Canada’s national junior teams.

Hockey Canada annually chooses staff members from junior teams across Canada to represent their country and work in their chosen fields for their national junior programs. These programs include the Under-20, Under-18 and Under-17 national teams. Since the Royals have moved to Vancouver Island in 2011, the club has had five members of their Hockey Operations staff represent these team’s national junior programs on 12 occasions.

Auerbach will make his fourth appearance with Hockey Canada and first with the Under-20 National Junior Team as assistant equipment manager. He will join Royals’ Head Coach Dave Lowry, who was named bench boss for Canada at the annual tournament and defenceman Joe Hicketts, who was a member of the 2015 team. The 2016 World Junior Championships will be held in Helsinki, Finland from December 26th to January 5th.

A native of Vernon, BC, Auerbach previously won a gold medal with Canada at the 2011 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Auerbach has also worked at the Under-18 Summer Team Selection Camp in 2014 and 2009. 

Auerbach has been a part of the Victoria/Chilliwack franchise since its inception in 2006, and has worked over 700 regular season games in the WHL. Prior to his time with the Royals/Bruins, Auerbach spent one season with the Regina Pats as their equipment manager. 

Elliott has been named as one of Hockey Canada’s athletic therapists for the 2015 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Breclav, Czech Republic, which runs from August 10-15th.

The Victoria, BC product will be making his third appearance with Hockey Canada in as many years and first with the Under-18 team. Elliott was a member of Team Canada Black at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November. During the 2013-14 season, Elliott along with Royals’ forward Tyler Soy, defenceman Chaz Reddekopp and Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto won a silver medal with Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sydney, Nova Scotia. 

Elliott will enter his fourth season with the Royals. He previously worked with the Canadian Under-20 Rugby team (2011), the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals (2010), the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL (2009), and the Westshore Rebels (2008-10). Elliott has also worked at the 2010 BMO Skate Canada National Championships and 2010 Western Canada Summer Games.

Dr. Conrad will join Canada’s medical team for the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, BC from October 30th – November 7th. Last year, Dr. Conrad worked with all three Canadian teams (Red, White and Black) that participated in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

A native of Ottawa, ON, Dr. Conrad has been a part of the Royals’ Hockey Operations staff for the past four seasons. Prior to his time with the Royals, Dr. Conrad worked in the same role with the Victoria Salmon Kings from 2006 to 2011.


Be a part of every minute of the action this year by becoming a Royals’ Season Ticket Holder. Call 250-220-7889 for further details or to set-up a meeting to choose your seats. More exciting ticketing options will be announced in July.