Maki was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He broke into professional hockey in 1964 with the St. Louis Braves of the CPHL, and joined the Chicago Black Hawks at left wing for the 1967–1968 season, playing the year with his older brother Chico Maki. His NHL career statistics are: 246 games played, 57 goals, 79 assists, 136 points, and 184 penalty minutes in regular season play, and 2 games played, 1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, and 2 penalty minutes in the playoffs.