Norm Maracle
Encyclopedia
Norm Maracle is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

 who played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 and Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

. Currently, he is playing with the German team Starbulls Rosenheim
Starbulls Rosenheim
Starbulls Rosenheim is an ice hockey team from Germany. The team joined SB/DJK Rosenheim in 1979, after EV Rosenheim had folded, and in 1994 the team adopted their current name.The team played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga from 1995-2000...

 in Germany's 2nd tier Bundesliga
2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)
The 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga is the second tier of Ice hockey in Germany. It is organised by the DEB, the German Ice Hockey Federation. In the 2007-08 season, it features 14 teams.- History of the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga :...

.

Junior career

Maracle joined the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...

's Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon Blades
The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:...

 during the 1991–92 season and remained with them until the 1993–94 season. Maracle's level of play during the 1993–94 season would earn him the Del Wilson Trophy
Del Wilson Trophy
The Del Wilson Trophy is awarded to the top goaltender of the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Del Wilson, who was the general manager of the Regina Pats when they won the Memorial Cup in 1974.- Winners :...

 for best goaltender in the WHL. Prior to the 1993–94 seasons, the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 drafted Maracle in the 5th Round, 126th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

Detroit

For the start of the 1994–95 season, Maracle was signed by the Red Wings and reassigned to their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...

 affiliate the Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...

, sharing goaltending duties with Kevin Hodson
Kevin Hodson
Kevin Hodson is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender. Hodson played professionally in the NHL and AHL before ending his playing career in the Finnish SM-liiga in 2003–04....

.
For the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons, Maracle would remain in the AHL, posting prolific winning records and a high save percentage each season, but did not get called up to the NHL due to the Red Wings' overwhelming goaltending depth, being the fourth goaltender behind Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood
Chris Osgood
Christopher John Osgood is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He's currently ranked tenth in wins in NHL regular season history with 401 career wins. He spent the first part of his 17-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, then the New York Islanders and the St. Louis...

 and Hodson.

While Maracle would spend the 1997–98 season as the starting goaltender in Adirondack, he would eventually get the call up from the Red Wings and post a 2–0–1 record in four NHL appearances. He did not see any playoff action that season, where the Red Wings would go on to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

 championship. He was included on the team picture, and awarded a Stanley Cup Ring. However, his name does not appear on the Stanley Cup, because he did not play enough games.

Maracle challenged Hodson for the backup spot for the 1998–99 season. Maracle put up solid numbers during the season and as a result, became Detroit's backup goaltender to Osgood. Maracle appeared in 16 regular season contests, posting a 6–5–2 record and a 91.8% save percentage. Hodson, however, was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...

 prior to the trade deadline so the Red Wings could acquire Bill Ranford
Bill Ranford
William Edward Ranford is a former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He graduated from New Westminster Secondary School in 1985. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the Boston Bruins...

 as Detroit's third goaltender. Due to Ranford's strong showing towards the end of the regular season, the Red Wings kept Maracle on 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
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

 in the Conference Semifinals. Osgood was injured prior to the first game, placing Ranford as the starting goaltender and having Maracle serve as his backup. Maracle played in two games against Colorado, relieving Ranford in both instances. By the time Osgood returned from being injured, the Red Wings could not solve the Avalanche and were eliminated in the playoffs. Not having lived up to expectations, Ranford was not re-signed at the end of the season. Maracle also fell under scrutiny because not only did he not perform as expected in the playoffs, but his conditioning was coming into question. Due to this, Maracle was unprotected in the Expansion Draft, resulting in the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

 claiming Maracle 2nd overall in the 1999 NHL Expansion Draft
1999 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1999 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 25, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The draft took place to fill the roster of the league's expansion team for the 1999–2000 season, the Atlanta Thrashers.-Rules:...

 on 25 June 1999.

Maracle earned the nickname "Miracle" because despite being a borderline starting goaltender, Maracle would once in a while would have superb games (including three 50+ save performances), bailing his team out, i.e. only with a miracle in net could Detroit win.

Atlanta

With the 1999–2000 season in the NHL being the first for the Thrashers, there was some instability in the lineup. Maracle still managed to start in more games for the Thrashers than any of the other four goaltenders whom he played alongside with (being Damian Rhodes
Damian Rhodes
Damian "Dusty" Rhodes is an American former professional ice hockey player. Rhodes played from 1993 until 2002 in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

, Scott Fankhouser
Scott Fankhouser
Scott Fankhouser was an American ice hockey goaltender, he is currently the Assistant Coach for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.- Career :...

, Scott Langkow
Scott Langkow
Scott Langkow is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing in Europe with the Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.- Playing career :...

 and Rick Tabaracci
Rick Tabaracci
Richard Stephen Tabaracci is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender.Drafted 26th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tabaracci also played for the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, and Colorado Avalanche. He...

). However, with a shaky defense playing in front of him, Maracle finished the season with a 4–19–2 record and would have a save percentage under 90%. The team did not make the playoffs.

When Maracle reported for the 2000–01 training camp, his conditioning had become so poor that he was reassigned to the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League, Atlanta's minor league affiliate. In spite of this, Maracle worked hard to post an impressive 33–13–3 record at a minor level. His 33 wins and eight shutouts that season with Orlando were team records. As well, he helped backstop the Solar Bears to their first and only Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...

 victory in the International Hockey League in the league's final year of operation. His strong minor league performance earned him 13 appearances for the Thrashers during that season. Though his record for the Thrashers was 2–8–3, his save percentage slightly improved.

Maracle would only appear in one NHL game for the 2001–02 season, being a 3–0 loss to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...

 on 10 November 2001. This would be his last NHL game to date. Maracle would spend the rest of the season with the Thrashers' new minor league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...

 of the AHL. Maracle was the starting goaltender with Pasi Nurminen
Pasi Nurminen
Pasi Nurminen is a Finnish retired ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers as their sixth-round pick, #189 overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft....

 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
Milan Hnilicka
Milan Hnilička is a former Czech ice hockey goalie who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers and the Los Angeles Kings. He was drafted 70th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. In 2000, Milan won the Calder Cup while playing for...

, Byron Dafoe
Byron Dafoe
Byron Dafoe is a British-Canadian former National Hockey League goaltender. He was born in Worthing, Sussex, England and moved to Duncan, British Columbia with his mother at the age of two months old. Between 1992 and 2004, he played for the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings...

 and Frédéric Cassivi
Frederic Cassivi
Frédéric Cassivi is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who is currently a Free Agent. He most recently played for the Vienna Capitals in the Austrian Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 supporting him. While Hnilicka and Cassivi would be assigned and recalled from their minor league affiliate, Maracle did not receive that same privilege. Having run out of options to leave the minors in the North American system, Maracle signed with Magnitogorsk Metallurg
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Metallurg Novokuznetsk is a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Chernyshev Division in the Kontinental Hockey League.-History:-Champions:...

 of the RHSL on 8 June 2003.

Professional career in Europe

Maracle, better conditioned and in a new system, would appear in 46 contests for Magnitogorsk Metallurg for the 2003–04 season.

Though he signed a contract with the Nurnburg Ice Tigers
Sinupret Ice Tigers
The Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers Nürnberg are a professional ice hockey club located in Nuremberg, Germany. They play in the country's premier league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-History:...

 of the Deutsche Liga at the start of the 2004–05 season, he never appeared in a contest for them. Maracle ended up signing with the 2004 RHSL Champion Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk are a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in the city of Omsk, Russia. They are members of the Chernyshev Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Overview:...

 on 5 November 2004. Maracle would go on to compete with Avangard for the European Cup Championship
IIHF European Champions Cup
The IIHF European Champions Cup was an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation , which took place during a long weekend in early January. The winner was considered the official club champion of Europe by the IIHF...

, which Avangard ended up winning.

Maracle established himself as the starting goaltender for Avangard for the 2005–06 season as well.

In the 2006–07 season, though Maracle served Avangard as their starting goaltender for their previous seasons, he supported Alexandre Fomichev as the team's backup goaltender. The team placed third overall in the league and went to the semi-finals of the Russian Super League Championships before losing to the eventual champions, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk is a professional ice hockey team based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League...

.

For the 2007–08 season, Maracle signed with the Iserlohn Roosters
Iserlohn Roosters
The Iserlohn Roosters are a professional ice hockey team based in Iserlohn, North-Rhine-Westphalia. They are members of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga since 2000 and play their home games at the Eissporthalle Iserlohn which is also known as Eissporthalle am Seilersee. Playing nine years in the DEL the...

 in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Maracle has become a favorite amongst Roosters fans, especially for his on ice antics including break dancing.

Maracle joined HDD Olimpija Ljubljana
HDD Olimpija Ljubljana
HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana is a Slovenian professional ice hockey team that plays in the Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Tivoli in Ljubljana. Olimpija has won 13 Yugoslav Championships and 11 Slovenian championships. They won 10 consecutive times from 1995 to 2004...

 who played in the Austrian League in the 2009–10 season and played then from January between April 2010 for the Kölner Haie
Kölner Haie
The Kölner Haie are an ice hockey club based in Cologne, Germany that plays in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The team was one of the founding members of the DEL.The team colours are red and white....

.

Since July 2010, he is playing with the German team Starbulls Rosenheim
Starbulls Rosenheim
Starbulls Rosenheim is an ice hockey team from Germany. The team joined SB/DJK Rosenheim in 1979, after EV Rosenheim had folded, and in 1994 the team adopted their current name.The team played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga from 1995-2000...

 in Germany's 2nd tier Bundesliga
Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is the name for the premier league of any sport in Germany or Austria...

.

Regular season

   
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1990–91 Calgary North Stars AMHL
Alberta Midget Hockey League
The Alberta Midget Hockey League or AMHL is the provincial Midget AAA ice hockey league for Alberta, Canada. The league consists of 18 teams split into the Dodge and Chrysler Divisions. League champions go on to compete with the BC Hockey Major Midget League champions to represent the Pacific at...

29 1740 99 0 3.43
1991–92 Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon Blades
The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:...

WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...

29 13 6 3 1529 87 1 3.41
1992–93 Saskatoon Blades WHL 53 27 18 3 2939 160 1 3.27
1993–94 Saskatoon Blades WHL 56 41 13 1 3219 148 2 2.76
1994–95
1994–95 AHL season
The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule...

Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...

AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...

39 12 15 2 1997 119 0 3.57 .896
1995–96
1995–96 AHL season
The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions...

Adirondack Red Wings AHL 54 24 18 6 2949 135 2 2.75 .905
1996–97
1996–97 AHL season
The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division...

Adirondack Red Wings AHL 68 34 22 9 3843 173 5 2.70 .916
1997–98 Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

4 2 0 1 178 6 0 2.02 .905
1997–98
1997–98 AHL season
The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...

Adirondack Red Wings AHL 66 27 29 8 3709 190 1 3.07 .912
1998–99
1998–99 AHL season
The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...

Adirondack Red Wings AHL 6 3 3 0 359 18 0 3.01 .908
1998–99 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 6 5 2 821 31 0 2.27 .918
1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

NHL 32 4 19 2 1618 94 1 3.49 .890
2000–01 Orlando Solar Bears IHL 51 33 13 3 2963 100 8 2.02 .925
2000–01 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 13 2 8 3 753 43 0 3.43 .894
2001–02
2001–02 AHL season
The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion...

Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...

AHL 51 21 25 4 2919 141 3 2.90 .906
2001–02 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 1 0 1 0 60 3 0 3.00 .850
2002–03
2002–03 AHL season
The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season...

Chicago Wolves AHL 49 22 18 6 2794 134 2 2.88 .906
2003–04 Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk is a professional ice hockey team based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League...

Russia 46 2457 82 8 2.00 .925
2004–05 Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk are a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in the city of Omsk, Russia. They are members of the Chernyshev Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Overview:...

Russia 28
2005–06 Avangard Omsk Russia 44 2565 91 5 2.13 .909
2006–07 Avangard Omsk Russia 12
NHL totals 66 14 33 8 3430 177 1 3.10 .897

Post season

   
Season Team League GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1991–92 Saskatoon Blades WHL 15 9 5 860 37 0 3.38
1992–93 Saskatoon Blades WHL 9 4 5 569 33 0 3.48
1993–94 Saskatoon Blades WHL 16 11 5 940 48 1 3.06
1995–96 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 1 0 1 30 4 0 8.11
1996–97 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 4 1 3 192 10 1 3.13
1997–98 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 3 0 3 180 10 0 3.33
1998–99 Detroit Red Wings NHL 2 0 0 58 3 0 3.10 .864
2000–01 Orlando Solar Bears IHL 16 12 4 1003 37 1 2.21
2001–02 Chicago Wolves AHL 2 0 1 55 4 0 4.36 .818
2002–03 Chicago Wolves AHL 8 3 4 462 17 1 2.21 .915
2003–04 Metallurg Magnitogorsk Russia 14
NHL totals 2 0 0 58 3 0 3.10 .864

External links

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