In November 1957, as an 18-year-old, Wetzel played in relief of John Henderson for the Whitby Dunlops against the reigning Olympic gold medalist Soviet national team at Maple Leaf Gardens.

At the time, Wetzel was the goalie for the Hamilton Tiger Cubs of the Ontario Hockey Association and played against the Dunlops before the game against the Russians.

Wetzel played in the NHL during the Original Six era with the Detroit Red Wings, where he competed as the starting goalie with Roger Crozier in 1964, seeing action in two games.

Internationally, Wetzel was the starting goalie for the American national team at the 1967 World Championships in Vienna.

He was voted best goaltender of the tournament, an award earned by four other Americans in the history of the IIHF (Don Rigazio, 1955; Willard Ikola, 1956; Jack McCartan, 1960; and Ty Conklin 2004).