From 2006 to 2012, he played for Villacher SV in the Austrian Hockey League and then took his game to Sweden.

[1] Starkbaum endured a shortened stint with EHC Kloten of the Swiss League before returning to the EBEL, agreeing to terms with the Vienna Capitals midway through the 2017–18 season on 12 January 2018.

He competed at the 2014 Olympic Games and won gold at the 2010 World Championship Division 1 Group A.

He received Best Goaltender honors at the 2016 World Championship Division 1 Group A.

This Austrian biographical article relating to ice hockey is a stub.