Wikipedia

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
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)

Offseason

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Regular season

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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

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Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Houston Aeros 78 48 25 5 318 219 1038 101
Minnesota Fighting Saints 78 44 32 2 332 275 1243 90
Edmonton Oilers 78 38 37 3 268 269 1273 79
Winnipeg Jets 78 34 39 5 264 296 673 73
Vancouver Blazers 78 27 50 1 278 345 1047 55
Los Angeles Sharks 78 25 53 0 239 339 1086 50


Game log

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Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 13, 1973 4–3 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 1–0–0
2 L October 14, 1973 2–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 1–1–0
3 W October 17, 1973 7–2 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 2–1–0
4 L October 21, 1973 0–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 2–2–0
5 W October 24, 1973 6–2 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 3–2–0
6 T October 27, 1973 2–2 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 3–2–1
7 L October 28, 1973 2–3 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 3–3–1
8 W October 30, 1973 6–1 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 4–3–1
9 W November 3, 1973 6–4 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 5–3–1
10 L November 7, 1973 4–5 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 5–4–1
11 W November 10, 1973 8–3 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 6–4–1
12 W November 13, 1973 5–2 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 7–4–1
13 L November 15, 1973 2–3 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 7–5–1
14 W November 17, 1973 3–2 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 8–5–1
15 L November 18, 1973 3–8 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 8–6–1
16 W November 21, 1973 4–1 New England Whalers (1973–74) 9–6–1
17 W November 24, 1973 5–3 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 10–6–1
18 W November 25, 1973 2–1 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 11–6–1
19 T November 28, 1973 4–4 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 11–6–2
20 L November 29, 1973 2–5 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 11–7–2
21 T December 1, 1973 3–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 11–7–3
22 L December 2, 1973 2–5 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 11–8–3
23 W December 5, 1973 5–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 12–8–3
24 L December 6, 1973 3–4 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 12–9–3
25 W December 9, 1973 5–3 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 13–9–3
26 W December 12, 1973 3–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 14–9–3
27 W December 14, 1973 5–2 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 15–9–3
28 L December 15, 1973 2–5 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 15–10–3
29 T December 16, 1973 2–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 15–10–4
30 W December 19, 1973 10–0 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 16–10–4
31 L December 21, 1973 1–3 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 16–11–4
32 W December 22, 1973 8–3 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 17–11–4
33 L December 26, 1973 2–3 OT New England Whalers (1973–74) 17–12–4
34 W December 29, 1973 3–0 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 18–12–4
35 W December 30, 1973 6–4 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 19–12–4
36 L January 5, 1974 1–2 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 19–13–4
37 W January 6, 1974 7–1 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 20–13–4
38 W January 8, 1974 6–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 21–13–4
39 W January 12, 1974 5–1 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 22–13–4
40 W January 16, 1974 4–1 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 23–13–4
41 W January 17, 1974 7–4 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 24–13–4
42 L January 19, 1974 2–3 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 24–14–4
43 W January 22, 1974 3–1 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 25–14–4
44 W January 24, 1974 5–1 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 26–14–4
45 W January 26, 1974 4–2 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 27–14–4
46 W January 27, 1974 4–1 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 28–14–4
47 L January 30, 1974 1–5 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 28–15–4
48 L January 31, 1974 4–6 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 28–16–4
49 L February 2, 1974 2–5 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 28–17–4
50 W February 4, 1974 7–1 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 29–17–4
51 W February 5, 1974 4–0 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 30–17–4
52 W February 8, 1974 6–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 31–17–4
53 T February 10, 1974 2–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 31–17–5
54 W February 12, 1974 3–1 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 32–17–5
55 W February 13, 1974 5–1 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 33–17–5
56 W February 15, 1974 6–4 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 34–17–5
57 L February 17, 1974 1–6 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 34–18–5
58 W February 20, 1974 7–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 35–18–5
59 W February 23, 1974 5–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 36–18–5
60 W February 24, 1974 7–1 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 37–18–5
61 W February 26, 1974 3–2 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 38–18–5
62 W February 28, 1974 9–4 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 39–18–5
63 L March 1, 1974 2–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 39–19–5
64 L March 3, 1974 3–6 New England Whalers (1973–74) 39–20–5
65 L March 6, 1974 2–4 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 39–21–5
66 W March 9, 1974 4–2 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 40–21–5
67 W March 12, 1974 3–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 41–21–5
68 W March 14, 1974 6–0 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 42–21–5
69 W March 17, 1974 4–3 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 43–21–5
70 W March 20, 1974 5–4 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 44–21–5
71 L March 21, 1974 3–6 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 44–22–5
72 W March 22, 1974 4–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 45–22–5
73 L March 24, 1974 3–5 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 45–23–5
74 W March 27, 1974 8–1 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 46–23–5
75 L March 29, 1974 5–7 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 46–24–5
76 L March 31, 1974 2–5 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 46–25–5
77 W April 1, 1974 4–1 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 47–25–5
78 W April 3, 1974 3–1 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 48–25–5

Playoffs

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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

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
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

Houston Aeros 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 2 - Division Finals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
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

Houston Aeros 4, Chicago Cougars 0 - Avco Cup Finals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
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

Player stats

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Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
9 - Gordie Howe RW 70 31 69 100 46 0 9 3 5
13 - Larry Lund C 75 33 53 86 109 0 7 2 10
7 - Frank Hughes LW 73 42 42 84 47 0 13 0 3
16 - Andre Hinse LW 69 24 56 80 39 0 10 0 3
4 - Mark Howe D 76 38 41 79 20 0 5 5 3
11 - Murray Hall RW 78 30 28 58 25 0 8 2 5
23 - Jim Sherrit C 76 30 28 58 18 0 4 0 2
10 - Gord Labossiere C 67 19 36 55 30 0 4 0 4
6 - Poul Popiel D 78 7 41 48 126 0 1 0 0
14 - Ted Taylor LW 75 21 23 44 143 0 1 3 3
2 - John Schella D 73 12 19 31 170 0 0 2 3
21 - Don Grierson RW 65 11 18 29 45 0 0 0 2
3 - Marty Howe D 73 4 20 24 90 0 0 0 1
5 - Gordon Kannegiesser D 78 0 20 20 26 0 0 0 0
17 - Larry Hale D 69 2 14 16 39 0 0 0 0
8 - Joe Szura C 42 8 7 15 4 0 0 0 3
25 - Gary Williamson LW 9 2 6 8 0 0 1 0 0
18 - Jack Stanfield LW 41 1 3 4 2 0 1 0 0
22 - Bill Prentice D 55 1 2 3 35 0 0 0 0
1 - Don McLeod G 49 0 3 3 6 0 0 0 0
12 - Ed Hoekstra C 19 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 1
30 - Wayne Rutledge G 25 0 1 1 14 0 0 0 0
29 - Ron Grahame G 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
1 - Don McLeod 2971 49 33 13 3 127 2.56 3
30 - Wayne Rutledge 1509 25 12 12 1 84 3.34 0
29 - Ron Grahame 250 4 3 0 1 5 1.20 1
Team: 4730 78 48 25 5 216 2.74 4
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Larry Lund C 14 9 14 23 56 0 0 1
Mark Howe D 14 9 10 19 4 0 0 1
Andre Hinse LW 14 8 9 17 18 0 0 1
Gordie Howe RW 13 3 14 17 34 0 0 1
Gord Labossiere C 14 7 9 16 20 0 0 2
Murray Hall RW 14 9 6 15 6 0 0 3
Poul Popiel D 14 1 14 15 22 0 0 0
Frank Hughes LW 14 9 5 14 9 0 0 1
Jim Sherrit C 14 5 7 12 2 0 0 1
Ted Taylor LW 14 4 8 12 60 0 0 0
John Schella D 14 2 6 8 42 0 0 0
Don Grierson RW 14 1 5 6 23 0 0 0
Marty Howe D 14 1 5 6 31 0 0 0
Larry Hale D 14 3 2 5 6 0 0 1
Gordon Kannegiesser D 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 0
Don McLeod G 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Bill Prentice D 10 0 0 0 5 0 0 0
Jack Stanfield LW 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Joe Szura C 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gary Williamson LW 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Don McLeod 842 14 12 2 35 2.49 0
Team: 842 14 12 2 35 2.49 0

[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;

Awards and records

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Transactions

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Draft picks

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

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 9 Darcy Rota (F)   Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
2 23 Tom Lysiak (F)   Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
3 35 Vic Mercredi (LW)   Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
4 48 Don Cutts (G)   Canada R.P.I. (ECAC)
5 61 Paul O'Neil (C)   United States Boston University (ECAC)
6 74 Dennis Owchar (D)   Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
7 87 Dan Hinton (F)   Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
8 99 Lee Palmer (D)   Canada Clarkson University (ECAC)
9 110 Sean Shanahan (LW)   Canada Providence College (ECAC)

See also

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References

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  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 June 30, 2009.
  4. ^ "1973-74 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  5. ^ "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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