1974–75 Houston Aeros season

The 1974–75 Houston Aeros season was the Aeros' third season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Aeros qualified first in their division for the playoffs and successfully defended their Avco World Trophy WHA championship.

1974–75 Houston Aeros (WHA)
Avco Cup champions
Division1st Western
1974–75 record53–25–0
Home record28–11–0
Road record25–14–0
Goals for369
Goals against247
Team information
CoachBill Dineen
ArenaSam Houston Coliseum
Team leaders
GoalsFrank Hughes
AssistsLarry Lund
PointsLarry Lund

Regular season

Larry Lund scored 33 goals and had 108 points on the season. Frank Hughes scored a team high 48 goals. Gordie Howe (at the age of 46) scored 34 goals and had 99 points. Mark Howe had 36 goals and 76 points while Marty Howe had 13 goals and 34 points. In total, the Howe family had 83 goals and 209 points combined during the season. The Aeros ranked first in goals scored and goals against en route to 53 wins, a five-game improvement from their Cup winning season the year before.[1]

Final standings
Western Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Houston Aeros78532501063692471257
San Diego Mariners7843314903262681058
Minnesota Fighting Saints7842333873082791233
Phoenix Roadrunners7839318863002651388
Michigan Stags / Baltimore Blades7821534462053411104

Game log
Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 16, 19746–0@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)1–0–0
2LOctober 18, 19744–6@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)1–1–0
3LOctober 19, 19742–6@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)1–2–0
4LOctober 22, 19742–7@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)1–3–0
5LOctober 23, 19744–5@ New England Whalers (1974–75)1–4–0
6WOctober 26, 19743–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)2–4–0
7WOctober 29, 19744–2@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)3–4–0
8WOctober 30, 19741–0Chicago Cougars (1974–75)4–4–0
9WNovember 2, 19748–2Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)5–4–0
10WNovember 5, 19749–3San Diego Mariners (1974–75)6–4–0
11LNovember 9, 19744–5 OTIndianapolis Racers (1974–75)6–5–0
12WNovember 12, 19746–1New England Whalers (1974–75)7–5–0
13WNovember 13, 19748–5@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)8–5–0
14WNovember 16, 19746–2Chicago Cougars (1974–75)9–5–0
15LNovember 17, 19743–4San Diego Mariners (1974–75)9–6–0
16WNovember 19, 197410–0@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)10–6–0
17WNovember 22, 19744–1@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)11–6–0
18WNovember 23, 19744–2@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)12–6–0
19WNovember 24, 19744–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)13–6–0
20LNovember 26, 19744–6Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)13–7–0
21WNovember 28, 19742–0Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)14–7–0
22LNovember 30, 19744–5Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)14–8–0
23WDecember 1, 19747–3@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)15–8–0
24WDecember 3, 19745–4@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)16–8–0
25WDecember 4, 19743–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)17–8–0
26LDecember 8, 19741–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)17–9–0
27WDecember 11, 19745–2Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)18–9–0
28WDecember 14, 19745–3Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)19–9–0
29LDecember 15, 19743–4San Diego Mariners (1974–75)19–10–0
30WDecember 17, 19747–2Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)20–10–0
31LDecember 19, 19741–3Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)20–11–0
32WDecember 21, 19745–3@ New England Whalers (1974–75)21–11–0
33WDecember 22, 19743–0@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)22–11–0
34WDecember 28, 19746–1New England Whalers (1974–75)23–11–0
35WDecember 29, 19746–3Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)24–11–0
36WJanuary 2, 19756–3Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)25–11–0
37WJanuary 4, 19755–2Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)26–11–0
38WJanuary 11, 19756–4Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)27–11–0
39LJanuary 12, 19754–7Toronto Toros (1974–75)27–12–0
40WJanuary 15, 19759–2Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)28–12–0
41LJanuary 18, 19754–5 OT@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)28–13–0
42LJanuary 24, 19755–7@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)28–14–0
43WJanuary 26, 19753–1@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)29–14–0
44LJanuary 28, 19755–7@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)29–15–0
45LJanuary 31, 19751–4@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)29–16–0
46WFebruary 1, 19756–5@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)30–16–0
47WFebruary 2, 19755–2@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)31–16–0
48WFebruary 4, 19754–3 OT@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)32–16–0
49WFebruary 5, 19755–2Toronto Toros (1974–75)33–16–0
50LFebruary 6, 19753–4Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)33–17–0
51LFebruary 8, 19754–6Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)33–18–0
52WFebruary 9, 19754–1@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)34–18–0
53WFebruary 11, 19755–2@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)35–18–0
54WFebruary 12, 19753–1@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)36–18–0
55LFebruary 14, 19753–5@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)36–19–0
56WFebruary 17, 19755–3@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)37–19–0
57WFebruary 19, 197510–4Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)38–19–0
58LFebruary 22, 19752–4Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)38–20–0
59WFebruary 23, 19755–1Toronto Toros (1974–75)39–20–0
60WFebruary 26, 19759–5Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)40–20–0
61WFebruary 27, 19757–2@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)41–20–0
62WMarch 1, 19754–2Chicago Cougars (1974–75)42–20–0
63WMarch 2, 19754–3 OTIndianapolis Racers (1974–75)43–20–0
64LMarch 6, 19754–7@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)43–21–0
65LMarch 8, 19754–5New England Whalers (1974–75)43–22–0
66WMarch 14, 19755–4@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)44–22–0
67WMarch 16, 19752–1@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)45–22–0
68LMarch 17, 19754–5@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)45–23–0
69WMarch 19, 19756–5Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)46–23–0
70WMarch 20, 19755–3Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)47–23–0
71WMarch 22, 19755–3@ New England Whalers (1974–75)48–23–0
72LMarch 26, 19751–2@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)48–24–0
73WMarch 27, 19758–0Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)49–24–0
74WMarch 29, 19758–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)50–24–0
75WApril 2, 19757–6Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)51–24–0
76WApril 5, 19758–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)52–24–0
77WApril 6, 19755–2@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)53–24–0
78LApril 7, 19752–4@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)53–25–0

Playoffs

During the playoffs, the Aeros lost only once en route to a second consecutive Avco World Trophy. The Aeros defeated the Cleveland Crusaders 4–1 in the Quarter-finals. The Aeros then defeated the San Diego Mariners 4–0 to advance to the Final. In the Final, the Aeros swept the Quebec Nordiques 4–0.

Houston Aeros 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1 - Quarterfinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 10Cleveland Crusaders5–8Houston Aeros1–0
2April 12Cleveland Crusaders3–5Houston Aeros2–0
3April 13Houston Aeros1–3Cleveland Crusaders2–1
4April 15Houston Aeros7–2Cleveland Crusaders3–1
5April 17Cleveland Crusaders1–3Houston Aeros4–1

Houston Aeros 4, San Diego Mariners 0 - Semifinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 25Houston Aeros4–0San Diego Mariners1–0
2April 27Houston Aeros2–1San Diego Mariners2–0
3April 29San Diego Mariners0–6Houston Aeros3–0
4May 1San Diego Mariners4–5 OTHouston Aeros4–0

Houston Aeros 4, Quebec Nordiques 0 - Avco Cup Finals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1May 3Quebec Nordiques2–6Houston Aeros1–0
2May 6Quebec Nordiques3–5Houston Aeros2–0
3May 10Houston Aeros2–0Quebec Nordiques3–0
4May 12Houston Aeros7–2Quebec Nordiques4–0

Player stats
Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Larry LundC78337510868281300
Gordie HoweRW753465998440830
Andre HinseLW7539478612341300
Frank HughesLW7648358335321500
Mark HoweD743640763040740
Poul PopielD7811536412341420
Gord LabossiereC76233457405400
Ted TaylorLW732627531307230
John SchellaD7810425217643000
Jim SherritC772225472536100
Murray HallRW78182947282050
Terry RuskowskiC7110364613430300
Rich PrestonRW782021411025100
Don LarwayRW762214365926000
Marty HoweD751321348946010
Larry HaleD76218204035000
Glen IrwinD702111315338000
Bill PrenticeD17033193000
Ron GrahameG4301160000
Wayne RutledgeG3500000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Ron Grahame259043331001313.034
Wayne Rutledge209235201501133.242
Team:468278532502443.136
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Mark HoweD131012220003
Gordie HoweRW138122020001
Larry LundC135131813001
Gord LabossiereC1367134000
Frank HughesLW1366122001
Poul PopielD131101134001
Murray HallRW1373108002
Andre HinseLW115498000
John SchellaD1308812000
Ted TaylorLW1125722000
Rich PrestonRW131676000
Terry RuskowskiC1342615001
Jim SherritC133366002
Don LarwayRW133148000
Larry HaleD130440000
Marty HoweD1102211000
Glen IrwinD130228000
Ron GrahameG130110000
Bill PrenticeD40000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Ron Grahame78013121262.003
Team:78013121262.003

[2]

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 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.[3][4]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
WHA Secret Amateur Draft
19John Hughes (D) CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHA)
115Rich Nantais (LW) CanadaQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)
230Terry Ruskowski (C) CanadaSwift Current Broncos (WCHL)
WHA Amateur Draft
115Dick Spannbauer (D) United StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)
230Pierre Larouche (F) CanadaSorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
345Pete LoPresti (G) United StatesUniversity of Denver (WCHA)
460Derek Smith (F) CanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
574Bob Sirois (RW) CanadaMontreal Red White and Blue (QMJHL)
689Ken Gassoff (C) CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
7104Murray Beck (C) CanadaNew Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
8119Jerry Badiuk (D) CanadaKitchener Rangers (OHA)
9134Jan Kascak (D) CanadaSt. Louis University (CCHA)
10147Ron Wilson (D) United StatesProvidence College (ECAC)
11160Bob Ferriter (LW) United StatesBoston College (ECAC)
12173John McMorrow (F) United StatesProvidence College (ECAC)
13184Craig Norwich (D) United StatesUniversity of Wisconsin (WCHA)
14192Kevin MacDonald (D) CanadaBowling Green State University (CCHA)
15197Ian MacPhee (RW) CanadaSwift Current Broncos (WCHL)
16201Don Hay (RW) CanadaNew Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

See also

References
  1. "1974–75 Houston Aeros Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. "1974-75 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  3. "1974 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  4. "1974 WHA Secret Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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