Adam Kadlec’s hockey journey began in North America and he earned spots in the top junior systems. However, injuries affected his progress and Kadlec had to step away from the game.

Now, six years later, he is attempting to re-ignite his career with the Sydney Bears. At the midway point of the season, Kadlec leads the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) in goals and points. This is Kadlec’s story.

Kadlec comes from an immigrant family, his father was from Czechia and grew up in Toronto, Canada.

“We didn’t have any money,” Kadlec reflected, “didn’t have any of the resources to play hockey, but obviously Toronto is one of the biggest hockey cities in the world.” That experience in Toronto ignited passion for the sport in Kadlec’s father.

The family moved from Toronto to Chicago, where Kadlec was born. “By the time I was a year old I had a hockey stick in my hands, and before I could even walk I was skating pretty much” Kadlec shared. When Kadlec was about nine years old the family moved him to Minnesota to join one of the best development programs in the country.

With sights set to the future and the potential of being drafted into the NHL, Kadlec moved up to Canada to join the Canadian Hockey League program. The Prince George Cougars drafted Kadlec as a 16-year-old in 2015 into the Western Hockey League (WHL).

“I wasn’t six [foot] three, six [foot] four,” Kadlec recalls, “I was about five [foot] eleven, six foot, but I was very very skinny. I didn’t have any of the physical size that I needed to play there.”

The injuries started piling up for Kadlec. “I ended up having a concussion four games into my first season up there,” Kadlec says. “Same season I also had a broken collarbone which took me out for about three months.”

Kadlec was traded to the Prince Albert Raiders where he was able to play good minutes, earn powerplay time, and play with high end players. However, the injuries continued for Kadlec.

“It was tough to stay healthy because I was a very late bloomer. My maturity came when I was probably 20 or 21. That’s when I was able to start putting size on in the gym, kind of keep a healthy body,” Kadlec observed.

With the injury problems and his mother encountering health concerns, Kadlec’s priorities moved from hockey to family. “I wanted to be close with her and just kind of reset as a young man trying to grow into the world,” Kadlec noted.

Kadlec used his new circumstances and money received from his Canadian Hockey League contract to fund his undergraduate studies. After studying finance and economics, including qualifications from Harvard, and graduating with top honours, Kadlec focused on business opportunities.

Nevertheless, despite his successes in these different fields, something was missing. “There was still something inside of me that craved that competition, that craved that competitive spirit,” Kadlec revealed.

A religious man, Kadlec prayed for guidance, and within 24 hours he received a phone call from the Sydney Bears offering him a chance to resume his hockey career. A team mate of Kadlec’s, Jesse Gabriel, played in the AIHL, so Kadlec knew about the league.

“When I did get the call to come, I was excited,” Kadlec continued, “It’s different, it’s a different experience. I’m here to play hockey. I’m here to contribute to my team.

“Even picking up your bag and carrying it to and from the rink, that’s something that’s different for me. But I also think it’s something that gets you back to the pure roots of hockey. You’re not focusing on the bells and whistles.

“You’re just focusing on going out there and having a good time with your mates and trying to get as many wins and as many goals every game as you can as a team. And that’s refreshing because it makes it a pure sport again and gets rid of all the noise that comes with it – the political side of the game, the superstitious side of the game.”

Six years on since playing for the Corpus Christi IceRays in the North American Hockey League, Adam Kadlec suited up for the Sydney Bears. In the season opener, Kadlec scored just hours after getting off the plane and arriving in the country.

Since that debut, Kadlec has continued to rack up the points. So far this season Kadlec has been held off the scoresheet just once, and held to a single point twice. With 52 points in just 17 games played, Kadlec is averaging just over three points per game.

Kadlec leads the league in both goals (25) and points (52). The next closest player in points is NHL alum Scott Timmins, 11 points behind with 41.

“What a pleasant surprise,” Bears captain Ryan Annesley said when asked about Kadlec. “The guy hasn’t played in however many years, steps into it, and makes it look easy out there.”

“He’s [Kadlec] a very skilled player,” Bears Head Coach Tyler Huberty added. “He had some unfortunate injuries and things as a young player that took him off his career trajectory. The talent is still there.

“He’s been working really hard these past months to shake the rust off and get back into it… He’s a guy we’re ecstatic to have. It will be fun to see what he does after this season in Australia. He’s good enough to play in just about any league in the world,” Huberty concluded.

Kadlec also offers unprompted praise for the Bears’ bench boss, stating, “Tyler has been doing a phenomenal job. Coming in as an import coach he is having a lot of success.

“He’s been there for the team in the tough times and the periods we’re down. I’ve never seen a coach that stays as composed as he does during the game.

“When it comes to leading a team you need to stay level-headed. Tyler doesn’t scream or anything, it’s a good relief to have as a player, that you have a coach who is ready to support each individual on the team.”

The line of Adam Kadlec, Lucas Herrmann, and Christopher Eaden has been dynamite for the Bears this season, and one of the most offensively productive lines in the league. Earlier this month, against the first-placed Melbourne Ice, Ice Head Coach Kerry Goulet opted to match power with power.

The top line of the Bears recorded 13 points in a 7-6 overtime victory. Kadlec led the lines with a hat-trick and two assists for five points, Eaden added a goal and four assists, and Herrmann chipped in a goal and two assists. The Ice top line of Joey Hughes, Austin Albrecht, and Ellesse Carini combined for eight points.

Even though Kadlec wasn’t involved in the overtime winner, Brody Lindal’s game winner against his former team lives long in the mind of Kadlec as a season highlight. “He’s the best under-21 player in the league right now,” Kadlec noted.

When Hockey Hype Australia asked Kadlec about how he feels leading the league in goals and points, he immediately deflected to the team achievements. “It’s definitely about the team,” Kadlec stated. “As an import coming into this league, it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re helping the team get wins.”

Kadlec’s family and friends back home have taken an interest in the AIHL since the season began. “My family is very invested,” Kadlec acknowledged, “they’re up at two, three, four in the morning to watch the games. Even my grandparents have got the game on their TV.

“It’s cool to have my family watch me play. A lot of friends and family, old hockey buddies, different mates from back home are all checking in. I think right now having imports adds depth to the league and an increased skill-level and adds exposure to the league itself.”

Key to Kadlec’s success has been his physical development and learning how to fuel his body to attain peak performance. “If you’re not knowledgeable enough in how to take care of your body, the injuries keep piling on,” Kadlec said.

“Now I’ve spent years and years studying the biohacking space and now I understand how the body moves and what you need to put into your body to be performing at your optimal output.

“I weigh about 40 pounds more [than 2018], I’m twice as strong as when I was playing in Canada. So that’s a huge advantage for me and that’s allowing me on the ice to be able to absorb more impact throughout a game.”

“I’m very proud of my performance so far and I want to keep continuing to improve and stay with the team for the season and take the team all the way. I think it’s in our cards, we’ve put together a really good roster.”

The weekend of June 8 and 9, where the Bears played the Perth Thunder and Melbourne Ice, was a confidence booster for the team, and particularly Kadlec. Saturday’s win against the Thunder was the first regulation win at home for the Bears against their Perth rivals since July 2018.

“It was a good confidence boost for us,” Kadlec agreed following those games against the Thunder and Ice. “It’s all about continuing that momentum, taking it one day at a time. We can’t get too complacent.”

There will be no shortage of options for Kadlec at the end of the AIHL season, both on the ice and off of it. Opportunities to play in North America, Europe, or even return to Australia next year are all possibilities for the 24-year-old. However, Kadlec is invested in present opportunities and stringing wins together for the Bears.

Sitting tied first in the league, having recently defeated the league leaders in overtime, Kadlec is bullish about the team’s championship aspirations. “The goal for the season is to win the Goodall Cup,” Kadlec confirmed. “Don’t expect anything less from us.”

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