1973–74 Houston Aeros season

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.[1][2]

1973–74 Houston Aeros (WHA)
Avco Cup champions
Division1st West
1973–74 record48–25–5
Home record28–9–2
Road record20–16–3
Goals for318
Goals against219
Team information
General managerJames S. Smith
CoachBill Dineen
CaptainTed Taylor
Alternate captainsGordie Howe
Gord Labossiere
Poul Popiel
ArenaSam Houston Coliseum
Average attendance6,811 (73.2%)
Team leaders
GoalsFrank Hughes (42)
AssistsGordie Howe (69)
PointsGordie Howe (100)
Penalty minutesJohn Schella (170)
WinsDon McLeod (49)
Goals against averageDon McLeod (2.56)

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.[3]

Final standings
Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Houston Aeros78482553182191038101
Minnesota Fighting Saints7844322332275124390
Edmonton Oilers7838373268269127379
Winnipeg Jets783439526429667373
Vancouver Blazers7827501278345104755
Los Angeles Sharks7825530239339108650

Game log
Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 13, 19734–3@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)1–0–0
2LOctober 14, 19732–5@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)1–1–0
3WOctober 17, 19737–2@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)2–1–0
4LOctober 21, 19730–2Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)2–2–0
5WOctober 24, 19736–2Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)3–2–0
6TOctober 27, 19732–2@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)3–2–1
7LOctober 28, 19732–3Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)3–3–1
8WOctober 30, 19736–1Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)4–3–1
9WNovember 3, 19736–4Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)5–3–1
10LNovember 7, 19734–5Toronto Toros (1973–74)5–4–1
11WNovember 10, 19738–3Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)6–4–1
12WNovember 13, 19735–2@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)7–4–1
13LNovember 15, 19732–3@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)7–5–1
14WNovember 17, 19733–2@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)8–5–1
15LNovember 18, 19733–8@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)8–6–1
16WNovember 21, 19734–1New England Whalers (1973–74)9–6–1
17WNovember 24, 19735–3Chicago Cougars (1973–74)10–6–1
18WNovember 25, 19732–1Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)11–6–1
19TNovember 28, 19734–4Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)11–6–2
20LNovember 29, 19732–5@ New England Whalers (1973–74)11–7–2
21TDecember 1, 19733–3@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)11–7–3
22LDecember 2, 19732–5@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)11–8–3
23WDecember 5, 19735–2New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)12–8–3
24LDecember 6, 19733–4@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)12–9–3
25WDecember 9, 19735–3@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)13–9–3
26WDecember 12, 19733–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)14–9–3
27WDecember 14, 19735–2@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)15–9–3
28LDecember 15, 19732–5@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)15–10–3
29TDecember 16, 19732–2Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)15–10–4
30WDecember 19, 197310–0Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)16–10–4
31LDecember 21, 19731–3@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)16–11–4
32WDecember 22, 19738–3Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)17–11–4
33LDecember 26, 19732–3 OTNew England Whalers (1973–74)17–12–4
34WDecember 29, 19733–0Chicago Cougars (1973–74)18–12–4
35WDecember 30, 19736–4@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)19–12–4
36LJanuary 5, 19741–2@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)19–13–4
37WJanuary 6, 19747–1Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)20–13–4
38WJanuary 8, 19746–2Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)21–13–4
39WJanuary 12, 19745–1Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)22–13–4
40WJanuary 16, 19744–1Toronto Toros (1973–74)23–13–4
41WJanuary 17, 19747–4Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)24–13–4
42LJanuary 19, 19742–3Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)24–14–4
43WJanuary 22, 19743–1Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)25–14–4
44WJanuary 24, 19745–1Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)26–14–4
45WJanuary 26, 19744–2@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)27–14–4
46WJanuary 27, 19744–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)28–14–4
47LJanuary 30, 19741–5@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)28–15–4
48LJanuary 31, 19744–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)28–16–4
49LFebruary 2, 19742–5@ New England Whalers (1973–74)28–17–4
50WFebruary 4, 19747–1@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)29–17–4
51WFebruary 5, 19744–0New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)30–17–4
52WFebruary 8, 19746–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)31–17–4
53TFebruary 10, 19742–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)31–17–5
54WFebruary 12, 19743–1@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)32–17–5
55WFebruary 13, 19745–1Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)33–17–5
56WFebruary 15, 19746–4@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)34–17–5
57LFebruary 17, 19741–6Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)34–18–5
58WFebruary 20, 19747–2New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)35–18–5
59WFebruary 23, 19745–2Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)36–18–5
60WFebruary 24, 19747–1Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)37–18–5
61WFebruary 26, 19743–2Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)38–18–5
62WFebruary 28, 19749–4@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)39–18–5
63LMarch 1, 19742–5@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)39–19–5
64LMarch 3, 19743–6New England Whalers (1973–74)39–20–5
65LMarch 6, 19742–4Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)39–21–5
66WMarch 9, 19744–2Toronto Toros (1973–74)40–21–5
67WMarch 12, 19743–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)41–21–5
68WMarch 14, 19746–0@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)42–21–5
69WMarch 17, 19744–3Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)43–21–5
70WMarch 20, 19745–4@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)44–21–5
71LMarch 21, 19743–6@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)44–22–5
72WMarch 22, 19744–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)45–22–5
73LMarch 24, 19743–5Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)45–23–5
74WMarch 27, 19748–1@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)46–23–5
75LMarch 29, 19745–7@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)46–24–5
76LMarch 31, 19742–5@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)46–25–5
77WApril 1, 19744–1@ New England Whalers (1973–74)47–25–5
78WApril 3, 19743–1Chicago Cougars (1973–74)48–25–5

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.

Houston Aeros 4, Winnipeg Jets 0 - Semifinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 8Houston Aeros5–2Winnipeg Jets1–0
2April 10Houston Aeros3–2Winnipeg Jets2–0
3April 13Winnipeg Jets1–10Houston Aeros3–0
4April 14Winnipeg Jets4–5Houston Aeros4–0

Houston Aeros 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 2 - Division Finals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 18Minnesota Fighting Saints5–4 OTHouston Aeros0–1
2April 20Minnesota Fighting Saints2–5Houston Aeros1–1
3April 21Houston Aeros1–4Minnesota Fighting Saints1–2
4April 28Houston Aeros4–1Minnesota Fighting Saints2–2
5April 29Minnesota Fighting Saints4–9Houston Aeros3–2
6May 1Houston Aeros3–1Minnesota Fighting Saints4–2

Houston Aeros 4, Chicago Cougars 0 - Avco Cup Finals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1May 12Houston Aeros3–2Chicago Cougars1–0
2May 15Houston Aeros6–1Chicago Cougars2–0
3May 17Chicago Cougars4–7Houston Aeros3–0
4May 19Chicago Cougars2–6Houston Aeros4–0

Player stats
Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
9 - Gordie HoweRW703169100460935
13 - Larry LundC7533538610907210
7 - Frank HughesLW734242844701303
16 - Andre HinseLW692456803901003
4 - Mark HoweD76384179200553
11 - Murray HallRW78302858250825
23 - Jim SherritC76302858180402
10 - Gord LabossiereC67193655300404
6 - Poul PopielD78741481260100
14 - Ted TaylorLW752123441430133
2 - John SchellaD731219311700023
21 - Don GriersonRW65111829450002
3 - Marty HoweD7342024900001
5 - Gordon KannegiesserD7802020260000
17 - Larry HaleD6921416390000
8 - Joe SzuraC42871540003
25 - Gary WilliamsonLW926800100
18 - Jack StanfieldLW4113420100
22 - Bill PrenticeD55123350000
1 - Don McLeodG4903360000
12 - Ed HoekstraC1920200001
30 - Wayne RutledgeG25011140000
29 - Ron GrahameG400000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
1 - Don McLeod297149331331272.563
30 - Wayne Rutledge15092512121843.340
29 - Ron Grahame250430151.201
Team:473078482552162.744
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Larry LundC149142356001
Mark HoweD14910194001
Andre HinseLW14891718001
Gordie HoweRW133141734001
Gord LabossiereC14791620002
Murray HallRW1496156003
Poul PopielD141141522000
Frank HughesLW1495149001
Jim SherritC1457122001
Ted TaylorLW14481260000
John SchellaD1426842000
Don GriersonRW1415623000
Marty HoweD1415631000
Larry HaleD143256001
Gordon KannegiesserD30222000
Don McLeodG140002000
Bill PrenticeD100005000
Jack StanfieldLW70002000
Joe SzuraC100000000
Gary WilliamsonLW120000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Don McLeod84214122352.490
Team:84214122352.490

[4]

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;

Draft picks

Houston's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.[5]

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

References
  1. World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  3. "1973–74 Houston Aeros Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  4. "1973-74 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  5. "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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