He played junior hockey for the Edmonton Oil Kings from 1970-75. Soetaert also won a silver medal for Canada at the 1975 World Junior Championship. The New York Rangers picked him 30th overall in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. He spent six years in the Rangers' system, either with their American Hockey League affiliate or as a backup for the NHL team. In 1981 he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets where he was finally a first-string goaltender for three seasons. The Montreal Canadiens accquired him in 1984 where he spent two seasons. Soetaert won the Stanley Cup in 1985-86.