Bernhard Starkbaum

Bernhard Starkbaum (born on February 19, 1986 in Wien) is an Austrian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Vienna Capitals of the ICEHL.

Club career
Starkbaum played junior hockey with the Wiener Eislöwen organisation. He made his senior debut during the 2003-04 season when he played one game with the Wiener Eislöwen of the Nationalliga while he was also playing with the Wiener Eislöwen under-20 team.

In the 2004-05 season played Starkbaum 19 regular season games and 2 play-off games with the Wiener Eislöwen of the Nationalliga and he was still playing with the Wiener Eislöwen under-20 team.

The 2005-06 season was his last junior one. He played 18 regular season games and 2 play-off games with the Wiener Eislöwen of the Nationalliga and he also played his last games with the Wiener Eislöwen under-20 team.

In 2006 - 2012 played Starkbaum with the Villacher SV of the EBEL. In the 2010-11 season, Starkbaum had the best goals against average (1.97) in the EBEL play-offs and best save percentage (.941) in the EBEL play-offs. And in the 2011-12 season, he had the best save percentage (.936) among all goalies of the EBEL.

In the 2012-13 season played Starkbaum with the MODO Hockey of the Elitserien. He had the most shutouts (8) in the entire Elitserien.

In 2013 - 2016, he played with the Brynäs IF of the SHL (formerly Elitserien). In his first season with the Brynäs IF, Starkbaum was also the second goalie in a few games with the IF Björklöven of the HockeyAllsvenskan but did not make an appearance on the ice.

In 2016, Starkbaum returned to Austria and played two seasons with the EC Salzburg of the EBEL.

Starkbaum then began the 2018-19 season with the EHC Kloten of the SL but after just 9 games played, he moved to the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL where he finished the season with 12 regular season games played. He was also the second goalie in the play-offs but did not play a single second on the ice.

Since then, Starkbaum plays with the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL (since 2020-21 season ICEHL). In the 2020-21 season, he had the best goals against average (1.82) in the play-offs in the league. He is curently signed there until the end of the 2020-21 season.

International career
Starkbaum played with the Austrian National Team at the 2002 and 2004 World U18 Championships Division I (winning bronze at both tournaments), 2009, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019 World Championship s (being named one of the top 3 players on the Austrian team at the 2013, 2015 and 2018 tournaments), 2010 World Championship Division I (winning there gold), 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 World Championships Division IA (winning silver at the 2012 and 2014 tournaments, winning gold at the 2017 tournament, being named the Best Goaltender of the tournament in 2016 and being named the Best Goaltender of the tournament while being the best goalie in goals against average (0.80) and save percentage (.971) at the tournament and being selected into the tournament's All-Star Team at the 2017 tournament) and at the 2014 Olympics.