1973–74 Houston Aeros season

1973–74 Houston Aeros (WHA)
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
Coach	Bill Dineen
Arena	Sam Houston Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Frank Hughes
Assists	Gordie Howe
Points	Gordie Howe
< 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. 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.[1] 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 - Howe, GordieGordie Howe RW 70 31 69 100 46 0 9 3 5 13 - Lund, LarryLarry Lund C 75 33 53 86 109 0 7 2 10 7 - Hughes, FrankFrank Hughes LW 73 42 42 84 47 0 13 0 3 16 - Hinse, AndreAndre Hinse LW 69 24 56 80 39 0 10 0 3 4 - Howe, MarkMark Howe D 76 38 41 79 20 0 5 5 3 11 - Hall, MurrayMurray Hall RW 78 30 28 58 25 0 8 2 5 23 - Sherrit, JimJim Sherrit C 76 30 28 58 18 0 4 0 2 10 - Labossiere, GordGord Labossiere C 67 19 36 55 30 0 4 0 4 6 - Popiel, PoulPoul Popiel D 78 7 41 48 126 0 1 0 0 14 - Taylor, TedTed Taylor LW 75 21 23 44 143 0 1 3 3 2 - Schella, JohnJohn Schella D 73 12 19 31 170 0 0 2 3 21 - Grierson, DonDon Grierson RW 65 11 18 29 45 0 0 0 2 3 - Howe, MartyMarty Howe D 73 4 20 24 90 0 0 0 1 5 - Kannegiesser, GordonGordon Kannegiesser D 78 0 20 20 26 0 0 0 0 17 - Hale, LarryLarry Hale D 69 2 14 16 39 0 0 0 0 8 - Szura, JoeJoe Szura C 42 8 7 15 4 0 0 0 3 25 - Williamson, GaryGary Williamson LW 9 2 6 8 0 0 1 0 0 18 - Stanfield, JackJack Stanfield LW 41 1 3 4 2 0 1 0 0 22 - Prentice, BillBill Prentice D 55 1 2 3 35 0 0 0 0 1 - McLeod, DonDon McLeod G 49 0 3 3 6 0 0 0 0 12 - Hoekstra, EdEd Hoekstra C 19 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 30 - Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge G 25 0 1 1 14 0 0 0 0 29 - Grahame, RonRon Grahame G 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Goaltending Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO 1 - McLeod, DonDon McLeod 2971 49 33 13 3 127 2.56 3 30 - Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge 1509 25 12 12 1 84 3.34 0 29 - Grahame, RonRon 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 Lund, LarryLarry Lund C 14 9 14 23 56 0 0 1 Howe, MarkMark Howe D 14 9 10 19 4 0 0 1 Hinse, AndreAndre Hinse LW 14 8 9 17 18 0 0 1 Howe, GordieGordie Howe RW 13 3 14 17 34 0 0 1 Labossiere, GordGord Labossiere C 14 7 9 16 20 0 0 2 Hall, MurrayMurray Hall RW 14 9 6 15 6 0 0 3 Popiel, PoulPoul Popiel D 14 1 14 15 22 0 0 0 Hughes, FrankFrank Hughes LW 14 9 5 14 9 0 0 1 Sherrit, JimJim Sherrit C 14 5 7 12 2 0 0 1 Taylor, TedTed Taylor LW 14 4 8 12 60 0 0 0 Schella, JohnJohn Schella D 14 2 6 8 42 0 0 0 Grierson, DonDon Grierson RW 14 1 5 6 23 0 0 0 Howe, MartyMarty Howe D 14 1 5 6 31 0 0 0 Hale, LarryLarry Hale D 14 3 2 5 6 0 0 1 Kannegiesser, GordonGordon Kannegiesser D 3 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 McLeod, DonDon McLeod G 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Prentice, BillBill Prentice D 10 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 Stanfield, JackJack Stanfield LW 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Szura, JoeJoe Szura C 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Williamson, GaryGary Williamson LW 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Goaltending Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO McLeod, DonDon McLeod 842 14 12 2 35 2.49 0 Team: 842 14 12 2 35 2.49 0 [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; See also 1973–74 WHA season References "1973–74 Houston Aeros Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30. "1973-74 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30. External links