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.

1973–74 Houston Aeros
Avco Cup champions
Division	1st West
1973–74 record	48–25–5
Home record	28–9–2
Road record	20–16–3
Goals for	318
Goals against	219
Team information
General manager	James S. Smith
Coach	Bill Dineen
Captain	Ted Taylor
Alternate captains	Gordie Howe Gord Labossiere Poul Popiel
Arena	Sam Houston Coliseum
Average attendance	6,811 (73.2%)
Team leaders
Goals	Frank Hughes (42)
Assists	Gordie Howe (69)
Points	Gordie Howe (100)
Penalty minutes	John Schella (170)
Wins	Don McLeod (49)
Goals against average	Don 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.

Final standings

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

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

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

#	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

#	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

#	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

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

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.

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

• 1973–74 WHA season