Arnold Kadlec was a defenseman who started his high-level club career in 1976 with CHZ Litvínov, playing for them for two seasons. He then moved to HC Dukla Jihlava in 1978, before returning to Litvinov in 1980. He was with Litvinov through 1989, but then played three more seasons around Europe, one season each with Lukko Rauma in Finland (1989-90), SHC Fassa in Italy (1990-91), and ending up in Czechoslovakia with VTZ Chomutov in 1991-92. He started his international career at the World Juniors in 1978 and 1979, winning a silver medal in 1979. He competed at two Winter Olympics (1980/84), winning silver in 1984, two Canada Cups (1981, 1984), winning bronze in 1981, and five World Championships (1981-83, 1985-86), winning a World title in 1985, two World silver medals in 1982-83 and a bronze medal in 1981.