Prior to ending his career in Europe, Maracle played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers.

[1] While Maracle spent the 1997–98 season as the starting goaltender in Adirondack, he eventually received a call up from the Red Wings and posted a 2–0–1 record in four NHL appearances.

Hodson, however, was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to the trade deadline so the Red Wings could acquire Bill Ranford as Detroit's third goaltender.

Due to Ranford's strong showing towards the end of the regular season, the Red Wings kept Maracle on the roster, but designated him as the third goaltender.

After the Red Wings defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the opening round of the playoffs, they went on to face the Colorado Avalanche in the Conference Semifinals.

[2] Maracle earned the nickname "Miracle" because despite being a borderline starting goaltender, he would occasionally have superb games (including three 50+ save performances).

Maracle's save percentage put him in 43rd place out of 83 eligible goaltenders (goalies who played at least 20 games in the NHL season).

Maracle spent the rest of the season with the Thrashers' new minor league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, as the starting goaltender with Pasi Nurminen backing him up.

For the 2002–03 Season, Maracle remained in the minors while Nurminen ascended the depth charts to become Atlanta's starting goaltender, with Milan Hnilicka, Byron Dafoe and Frédéric Cassivi supporting him.

Having run out of options to leave the minors in the North American system, Maracle signed with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the RSL on June 8, 2003.

[7] Maracle joined HDD Olimpija Ljubljana of the Austrian Hockey League in the 2009–10 season, from January to April 2010 he transferred to return to the DEL for Kölner Haie.