Chad Starling will undergo surgery next Wednesday – actually two surgeries, one to repair a sports hernia and another to repair an adductor muscle – that will sideline the defenseman for 7-8 weeks from that point. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Craig Smith at the Beach District Surgery Center in Redondo Beach.
“I’m hoping I can make it back quicker,” Starling said. “I’m going to work with Bob (Reign trainer Bobby Walls). He’s a top trainer in the league.”
Recently, Starling had been aggressively rehabbing the injury off the ice with a six-week core muscle program. Those six weeks were up last week. Starling hasn’t played since Nov. 20.
A seven-week recovery period projects to March 16. The Reign begin a six-game, 10-day road trip the next day, before returning home for the final week of the regular season.
“Hopefully I’ll be back in time for playoffs,” Starling said.