Starke, Robert

BORN MARCH 25TH, 1977in Montreal, Canada, one of three brothers who all played hockey. A defenseman, he commenced a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Legal Studies in 1996, whilst playing university ice hockey on scholarship with Bowdoin College of the NCAA Division III in Brunswick, Maine, USA. On completion in 2000, he played five years as a professional in North America and Europe.

First with the Missouri River Otters (2000-01) in the UHL, then HK Vojvodina Novi Sad in the IEL (2002 to 2003), Formido Flyers Heerenveen in the Eredivisie, and Verdun Dragons in the QSPHL (2003, '05). He was Serbian/ Yugoslavian Champion in 2002. In 2004, his brother Sean and he were recruited by the former coaching director of the Newcastle North Stars (AIHL), Rob Barnes.

While Sean was equal top scorer averaging over two points a game that season, and moved on to the UHL and EIHL, he remained with the Club for eleven seasons until his retirement in 2015. He was alternate captain from the outset and captain in 2010 and 2015. He won four Goodall Cups with the North Stars (2005, '06, '08 and '15) and played a total of 269 games in the AIHL scoring 58 goals and 242 assists, an average of 1.12 points per game.

He reached the 300 points milestone to retire fifth-highest point-scorer overall in AIHL history, and the highest point-scoring defenseman. He also holds many of the North Stars’ career records including most assists, most points, and the only player to win all of the team’s major awards, starting with the first awarding of the Most Valuable Player award in 2004.

He has been a coach of the youngest North Stars (4 to 10 year-old) and he was appointed Head Coach of the National Youth Team (U18) in 2007, finishing fifth in Division 2B. He also represented Australia three times in the D-Pool Worlds (2008, '09, '10) and he is a former captain of the Australian Ice Hockey Team (2009). He won a Division 2 Gold Medal and promotion to Division 1 at home in Newcastle in 2008, and Silver in 2012 in Mexico City. He has completed a Master of Business Administration here and practices law with Baker Love Lawyers in Newcastle who sponsor the Club with which he is still involved.