1973–74 Houston Aeros season

1973–74 Houston Aeros (WHA)
Avco Cup Champions
Division	1st Western
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)
Penalties in minutes	John Schella (170)
Wins	Don McLeod (49)
Goals against average	Don McLeod (2.56)

The 1973–74 Houston Aeros season was the 2nd season of the Aeros franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Aeros finished 1st in the Western Division and defeated the Chicago Cougars 4 games to 0 to win the Avco World Trophy WHA championship.

Off-season

Gordie Howe's 1973-74 jersey.

The Aeros jersey underwent significant changes that would last for the rest of their stint in the WHA. The colours remained the same as in the 1972-73 season but the colour flows on the arms were removed and stripes added. The body stripes were modified, the diagonal "AEROS" font was changed from block to serif and the names on the jersey backs were enlarged but were not outlined.

Pre-season

Golden Blades Andre Lacroix and Dean Boylan in exhibition action against the Aeros, September 25, 1973.

In order to promote the New York Golden Blades, a four team mini-tournament featuring the Houston Aeros, Winnipeg Jets and New England Whalers was held at Madison Square Garden on September 25, 1973.

Regular Season

Gordie, Marty and Mark Howe in 1973.

Gordie Howe was coaxed out of retirement after the Aeros signed his sons Marty and Mark Howe.

At age 45, Gordie Howe scored 100 points during the season, was voted a First Team All-Star and awarded the Gary L. Davidson Award as the league's most valuable player. Two seasons after he won the award, it was renamed to honor his legacy. Mark Howe won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as Rookie of the Year and was voted a Second Team All-Star. Goalie Don McLeod won the Ben Hatskin Trophy as Best Goaltender and was also voted a First Team All-Star.

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

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties Minutes, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game Log

Regular Season Results
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

Houston Aeros 4, Winnipeg Jets 0

#	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

Bill Goldthorpe made his WHA debut in this series, picked up 25 penalty minutes and was ejected from Game 4.

#	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

Larry Lund scores the sixth Aeros goal, Game 4 of the 1974 Avco World Trophy Finals, May 19, 1974.

When the Chicago Cougars won their series versus the Toronto Toros, the Peter Pan show had moved on, and the International Amphitheatre should have been available. However, the Amphitheatre had a portable ice surface. For reasons that were never stated, the Amphitheatre staff decided the hockey season was over so uncovered and dismantled the copper pipes used to chill the ice. The Cougars had no choice but to return to the Randhurst Ice Arena, a 2,000 seat public skating rink, for the Finals. The Cougars never quite recovered from the public relations disaster. One sports reporter had quipped, "The Cougars were beaten by the greatest lightweight of them all - Peter Pan."

#	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, GordGord 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 McLeod, DonDon McLeod 2971 49 33 13 3 127 2.56 3 Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge 1509 25 12 12 1 84 3.34 0 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, GordGord 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

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

• Avco World Trophy: Houston Aeros
• Gary L. Davidson Award (MVP): Gordie Howe
• Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Mark Howe
• Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender): Don McLeod
• Gordie Howe, Right Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
• Don McLeod, Goalie, WHA First Team All-Star
• Mark Howe, Left Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star

Gallery

Poster for the New York Golden Blades, Houston Aeros, Winnipeg Jets and New England Whalers mini-tournament on September 25, 1973.

Gordie Howe and Ron Climie, February 23, 1974.

Chris Worthy, Gordie Howe, Al Hamilton, February 23, 1974.

Gordie Howe passes to Frank Hughes, February 24, 1974.

Murray Hall scores on George Gardner as Ralph MacSweyn looks on, March 27, 1974.

Gordie Howe, Duke Harris, Don McLeod, Marty Howe, Ralph Backstrom, 1974 Finals Game 2, May 15, 1974.

Video

A 19 minute video with highlights from the 1973-74 Houston Aeros season.

WHA- Houston Aeros 1973-74 Championship Season Highlights

See Also

• 1973–74 WHA season