1973–74 Houston Aeros season

World Hockey Association team season August 2023 Sam Houston Coliseum 6,811 (73.2%) WHA 1973–74 1973 Houston Aeros (WHA)Houston Aeros 48–25–5 28–9–2 20–16–3 West 1st James S. Smith Bill Dineen Ted Taylor Gordie HoweGord LabossierePoul Popiel 318 219 Frank Hughes (42) Gordie Howe (69) Gordie Howe (100) John Schella (170) Don McLeod (49) Don McLeod (2.56) yes 1972–73 1974–75 The 1973–74 Houston Aeros season was the Houston Aeros second season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The season saw the debut of Gordie Howe and his sons in the WHA. The team would win the Avco World Trophy WHA championship.World Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1973 WHA 1973-74 Media Guide World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1974 WHA 1974-75 Media Guide World Hockey Association 2 Regular season At age 45, Howe scored 100 points during the season, and he was subsequently awarded the Gary L. Davidson Award for most valuable player. Two seasons after he won the award, it was renamed to honor his legacy. The Aeros won the Western Division for the first time in their history.https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HSA/1974_games.html Hockey-reference.com 2009-06-30 1973–74 Houston Aeros Games Final standings HOU Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#101077 5px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 5px solid; 1973–74 regular season1973-74 Houston Aeros Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HSA/1974_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 9, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; October: 4–3–1, 9 points (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 13, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||1–0–0 |- |2||L||October 14, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||1–1–0 |- |3||W||October 17, 1973||7–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||2–1–0 |- |4||L||October 21, 1973||0–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||2–2–0 |- |5||W||October 24, 1973||6–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||3–2–0 |- |6||T||October 27, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||3–2–1 |- |7||L||October 28, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||3–3–1 |- |8||W||October 30, 1973||6–1 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||4–3–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; November: 7–4–1, 15 points (home: 5–1–1; road: 2–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |9||W||November 3, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||5–3–1 |- |10||L||November 7, 1973||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||5–4–1 |- |11||W||November 10, 1973||8–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||6–4–1 |- |12||W||November 13, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||7–4–1 |- |13||L||November 15, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||7–5–1 |- |14||W||November 17, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||8–5–1 |- |15||L||November 18, 1973||3–8 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||8–6–1 |- |16||W||November 21, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||9–6–1 |- |17||W||November 24, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||10–6–1 |- |18||W||November 25, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||11–6–1 |- |19||T||November 28, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||11–6–2 |- |20||L||November 29, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||11–7–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; December: 8–5–2, 18 points (home: 4–1–1; road: 4–4–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |21||T||December 1, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||11–7–3 |- |22||L||December 2, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||11–8–3 |- |23||W||December 5, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||12–8–3 |- |24||L||December 6, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||12–9–3 |- |25||W||December 9, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||13–9–3 |- |26||W||December 12, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||14–9–3 |- |27||W||December 14, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||15–9–3 |- |28||L||December 15, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||15–10–3 |- |29||T||December 16, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||15–10–4 |- |30||W||December 19, 1973||10–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||16–10–4 |- |31||L||December 21, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||16–11–4 |- |32||W||December 22, 1973||8–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||17–11–4 |- |33||L||December 26, 1973||2–3 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||17–12–4 |- |34||W||December 29, 1973||3–0 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||18–12–4 |- |35||W||December 30, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||19–12–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; January: 9–4–0, 18 points (home: 7–1–0; road: 2–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |36||L||January 5, 1974||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||19–13–4 |- |37||W||January 6, 1974||7–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||20–13–4 |- |38||W||January 8, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||21–13–4 |- |39||W||January 12, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||22–13–4 |- |40||W||January 16, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||23–13–4 |- |41||W||January 17, 1974||7–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||24–13–4 |- |42||L||January 19, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||24–14–4 |- |43||W||January 22, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||25–14–4 |- |44||W||January 24, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||26–14–4 |- |45||W||January 26, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||27–14–4 |- |46||W||January 27, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||28–14–4 |- |47||L||January 30, 1974||1–5 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||28–15–4 |- |48||L||January 31, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||28–16–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; February: 11–2–1, 23 points (home: 6–1–0; road: 5–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |49||L||February 2, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||28–17–4 |- |50||W||February 4, 1974||7–1 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||29–17–4 |- |51||W||February 5, 1974||4–0 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||30–17–4 |- |52||W||February 8, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||31–17–4 |- |53||T||February 10, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||31–17–5 |- |54||W||February 12, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||32–17–5 |- |55||W||February 13, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||33–17–5 |- |56||W||February 15, 1974||6–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||34–17–5 |- |57||L||February 17, 1974||1–6 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||34–18–5 |- |58||W||February 20, 1974||7–2 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||35–18–5 |- |59||W||February 23, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||36–18–5 |- |60||W||February 24, 1974||7–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||37–18–5 |- |61||W||February 26, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||38–18–5 |- |62||W||February 28, 1974||9–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||39–18–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; March: 7–7–0, 14 points (home: 3–3–0; road: 4–4–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |63||L||March 1, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||39–19–5 |- |64||L||March 3, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||39–20–5 |- |65||L||March 6, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||39–21–5 |- |66||W||March 9, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||40–21–5 |- |67||W||March 12, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||41–21–5 |- |68||W||March 14, 1974||6–0 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||42–21–5 |- |69||W||March 17, 1974||4–3 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||43–21–5 |- |70||W||March 20, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||44–21–5 |- |71||L||March 21, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||44–22–5 |- |72||W||March 22, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||45–22–5 |- |73||L||March 24, 1974||3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||45–23–5 |- |74||W||March 27, 1974||8–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||46–23–5 |- |75||L||March 29, 1974||5–7 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||46–24–5 |- |76||L||March 31, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||46–25–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; April: 2–0–0, 4 points (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||W||April 1, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||47–25–5 |- |78||W||April 3, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||48–25–5 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs The Aeros defeated the Winnipeg Jets in the Division semi-final 4–0. In the Division final, the Aeros defeated the Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–2 to advance to the Avco Cup final. The Aeros would sweep the Chicago Cougars to win their first WHA championship. background:#fff; border-top:#101077 5px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 5px solid; 1974 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. Winnipeg Jets – Aeros win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 8 || Houston Aeros || 5–2 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–0 |- | 2 || April 10 || Houston Aeros || 3–2 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–0 |- | 3 || April 13 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–10 || Houston Aeros || 3–0 |- | 4 || April 14 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–5 || Houston Aeros || 4–0 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; Semifinals vs. Minnesota Fighting Saints – Aeros win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 18 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 5–4 OT || Houston Aeros || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 20 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 2–5 || Houston Aeros || 1–1 |- | 3 || April 21 || Houston Aeros || 1–4 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 1–2 |- | 4 || April 28 || Houston Aeros || 4–1 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 2–2 |- | 5 || April 29 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 4–9 || Houston Aeros || 3–2 |- | 6 || May 1 || Houston Aeros || 3–1 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 4–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#101077 2px solid; border-bottom:#34AACD 2px solid; Avco Cup Finals vs. Chicago Cougars – Aeros win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || May 12 || Houston Aeros || 3–2 || Chicago Cougars || 1–0 |- | 2 || May 15 || Houston Aeros || 6–1 || Chicago Cougars || 2–0 |- | 3 || May 17 || Chicago Cougars || 4–7 || Houston Aeros || 3–0 |- | 4 || May 19 || Chicago Cougars || 2–6 || Houston Aeros || 4–0 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Scoring + Regular seasonhockey-reference.com 2009-06-30 1973-74 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HSA/1974.html Player Pos Position GP Games playedG Goals A AssistsPts Points PIM Penalty minutes +/- Plus/Minus PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Gordie Howe RW 70 31 69 100 460935 Larry Lund C 75 33 53 86 10907210 Frank Hughes Frank Hughes (ice hockey) LW 73 42 42 84 4701303 Andre Hinse LW 69 24 56 80 3901003 Mark Howe LW 76 38 41 79 200553 Murray Hall Murray Hall (ice hockey) RW 78 30 28 58 250825 Jim Sherrit C 76 30 28 58 180402 Gord Labossiere C 67 19 36 55 300404 Poul Popiel D 78 7 41 48 1260100 Ted Taylor Ted Taylor (ice hockey) LW 75 21 23 44 1430133 John Schella D 73 12 19 31 1700023 Don Grierson Don Grierson (ice hockey) RW 65 11 18 29 450002 Marty Howe D 73 4 20 24 900001 Gordon Kannegiesser D 78 0 20 20 260000 Larry Hale D 69 2 14 16 390000 Joe Szura C 42 8 7 15 40003 Gary Williamson Gary Williamson (ice hockey) LW 9 2 6 8 00100 Jack Stanfield LW 41 1 3 4 20100 Bill Prentice D 55 1 2 3 350000 Don McLeod G 49 0 3 3 60000 Ed Hoekstra C 19 2 0 2 00001 Wayne Rutledge G 25 0 1 1 140000 Ron Grahame G 4 0 0 0 00000 + GoaltendingPlayerGP Games played MIN MinutesW WinL LossT TiesGA Goals against GAA Goals against averageSO Shutouts Don McLeod 2971 49 33 13 3 127 2.56 3 Wayne Rutledge 1509 25 12 12 1 84 3.34 0 Ron Grahame 250 4 3 0 1 5 1.20 1 Team: 4730 78 48 25 5 216 2.74 4 Postseason Player Pos Position GP Games playedG Goals A AssistsPts Points PIM Penalty minutes PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Larry Lund C 14 9 14 23 56001 Mark Howe D 14 9 10 19 4001 Andre Hinse LW 14 8 9 17 18001 Gordie Howe RW 13 3 14 17 34001 Gord Labossiere C 14 7 9 16 20002 Murray Hall Murray Hall (ice hockey) RW 14 9 6 15 6003 Poul Popiel D 14 1 14 15 22000 Frank Hughes Frank Hughes (ice hockey) LW 14 9 5 14 9001 Jim Sherrit C 14 5 7 12 2001 Ted Taylor Ted Taylor (ice hockey) LW 14 4 8 12 60000 John Schella D 14 2 6 8 42000 Don Grierson Don Grierson (ice hockey) RW 14 1 5 6 23000 Marty Howe D 14 1 5 6 31000 Larry Hale D 14 3 2 5 6001 Gordon Kannegiesser D 3 0 2 2 2000 Don McLeod G 14 0 0 0 2000 Bill Prentice D 10 0 0 0 5000 Jack Stanfield LW 7 0 0 0 2000 Joe Szura C 10 0 0 0 0000 Gary Williamson Gary Williamson (ice hockey) LW 12 0 0 0 0000 + PlayerMIN MinutesGP Games played W WinL Loss GA Goals against GAA Goals against averageSO Shutouts Don McLeod 842 14 12 2 35 2.49 0 Team: 842 14 12 2 35 2.49 0 Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals       MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; Awards and records Gordie Howe, Gary L. Davidson Award (Most Valuable Player) Mark Howe, Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year) Don McLeod, Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender) Gordie Howe, WHA All-Star Team (First Team) Don McLeod, WHA All-Star Team (First Team) Mark Howe, WHA All-Star Team (Second Team) 1974 WHA All-Star Game (January 3, 1974) Poul Popiel Larry Lund Gordie Howe Frank Hughes Draft picks Houston's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/wha1973a.html 1973 WHA Amateur Draft hockeyDB.com December 19, 2018 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)19Darcy Rota (F)CanadaEdmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)223Tom Lysiak (F)CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)335Vic Mercredi (LW)CanadaNew Westminster Bruins (WCHL)448Don Cutts (G)CanadaR.P.I. (ECAC)561Paul O'Neil (C)United StatesBoston University (ECAC)674Dennis Owchar (D)CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHA)787Dan Hinton (F)CanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)899Lee Palmer (D)CanadaClarkson University (ECAC)9110Sean Shanahan (LW)CanadaProvidence College (ECAC) See also 1973–74 WHA season References Houston Category:Houston Aeros seasons