1975–76 Houston Aeros season

1975–76 Houston Aeros
Division	1st Western
1975–76 record	53–27–0
Home record	33–7–0
Road record	20–20–0
Goals for	341
Goals against	263
Team information
General manager	Bill Dineen
Coach	Bill Dineen
Captain	Ted Taylor
Alternate captains	Gordie Howe Gord Labossiere Poul Popiel
Arena	Sam Houston Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Mark Howe (39)
Assists	Gordie Howe (70)
Points	Gordie Howe (102)
Penalty minutes	Glen Irwin (116)
Wins	Ron Grahame (39)
Goals against average	Wayne Rutledge (3.17)

The 1975–76 Houston Aeros season was the Aeros' 4th season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). Aeros finished 1st in the Western Division and lost in the Avco World Trophy Finals to the Winnipeg Jets 4 games to 0.

Off-season

The Aeros jerseys were the same design as in the 1973-74 season.

Regular Season

Final Standings

Western Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Houston Aeros	80	53	27	0	106	341	263	1093
Phoenix Roadrunners	80	39	35	6	84	302	287	1292
San Diego Mariners	80	36	38	6	78	303	290	716
Minnesota Fighting Saints	59	30	25	4	64	211	212	1354

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

Game Log

Regular Season Results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 11, 1975	5–0	@ New England Whalers (1975–76)	1–0–0
2	L	October 14, 1975	3–6	@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)	1–1–0
3	L	October 18, 1975	2–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)	1–2–0
4	W	October 19, 1975	6–5	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	2–2–0
5	L	October 23, 1975	0–4	@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	2–3–0
6	L	October 25, 1975	4–7	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	2–4–0
7	W	October 30, 1975	4–2	@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	3–4–0
8	W	November 1, 1975	3–2	@ Denver Spurs (1975–76)	4–4–0
9	W	November 5, 1975	6–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)	5–4–0
10	W	November 7, 1975	5–3	Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	6–4–0
11	W	November 9, 1975	3–2	Denver Spurs (1975–76)	7–4–0
12	W	November 11, 1975	5–4	Toronto Toros (1975–76)	8–4–0
13	L	November 12, 1975	1–4	@ New England Whalers (1975–76)	8–5–0
14	L	November 15, 1975	5–8	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	8–6–0
15	L	November 16, 1975	3–5	@ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)	8–7–0
16	W	November 18, 1975	3–2	@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)	9–7–0
17	W	November 21, 1975	4–2	Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)	10–7–0
18	W	November 23, 1975	4–0	Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)	11–7–0
19	W	November 25, 1975	4–1	Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	12–7–0
20	W	November 28, 1975	7–4	Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)	13–7–0
21	W	November 30, 1975	8–4	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	14–7–0
22	L	December 2, 1975	2–5	New England Whalers (1975–76)	14–8–0
23	W	December 5, 1975	5–4	Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)	15–8–0
24	L	December 6, 1975	5–6 OT	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	15–9–0
25	W	December 9, 1975	6–4	Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	16–9–0
26	W	December 12, 1975	4–2	Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	17–9–0
27	L	December 13, 1975	3–4	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)	17–10–0
28	W	December 14, 1975	4–3	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	18–10–0
29	L	December 16, 1975	2–4	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	18–11–0
30	W	December 20, 1975	4–3	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	19–11–0
31	L	December 21, 1975	1–3	@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	19–12–0
32	W	December 26, 1975	9–4	Denver Spurs (1975–76)	20–12–0
33	W	December 27, 1975	5–0	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)	21–12–0
34	L	December 30, 1975	3–5	Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)	21–13–0
35	W	January 3, 1976	4–2	Ottawa Civics (1975–76)	22–13–0
36	W	January 6, 1976	7–3	Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	23–13–0
37	W	January 9, 1976	6–5	Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	24–13–0
38	W	January 10, 1976	4–1	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)	25–13–0
39	W	January 11, 1976	5–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)	26–13–0
40	L	January 14, 1976	1–4	@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)	26–14–0
41	W	January 15, 1976	5–4 OT	@ Ottawa Civics (1975–76)	27–14–0
42	L	January 17, 1976	2–4	@ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)	27–15–0
43	L	January 20, 1976	5–7	Toronto Toros (1975–76)	27–16–0
44	W	January 21, 1976	9–3	New England Whalers (1975–76)	28–16–0
45	W	January 23, 1976	2–0	Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)	29–16–0
46	W	January 25, 1976	5–3	Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)	30–16–0
47	W	January 28, 1976	6–5	@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)	31–16–0
48	L	January 30, 1976	1–2	@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	31–17–0
49	L	January 31, 1976	1–4	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)	31–18–0
50	W	February 3, 1976	8–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)	32–18–0
51	W	February 6, 1976	4–3	Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	33–18–0
52	W	February 8, 1976	5–2	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	34–18–0
53	W	February 12, 1976	4–1	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	35–18–0
54	L	February 14, 1976	1–5	@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	35–19–0
55	L	February 15, 1976	2–4	Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)	35–20–0
56	W	February 17, 1976	4–3	New England Whalers (1975–76)	36–20–0
57	W	February 19, 1976	5–3	Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	37–20–0
58	L	February 22, 1976	1–2	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	37–21–0
59	L	February 24, 1976	1–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)	37–22–0
60	W	February 26, 1976	5–2	@ New England Whalers (1975–76)	38–22–0
61	W	February 27, 1976	7–6 OT	@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)	39–22–0
62	W	February 28, 1976	4–2	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	40–22–0
63	W	March 5, 1976	6–3	Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	41–22–0
64	L	March 6, 1976	4–5	Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	41–23–0
65	W	March 9, 1976	9–2	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	42–23–0
66	L	March 11, 1976	1–4	@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	42–24–0
67	W	March 13, 1976	3–2	@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	43–24–0
68	W	March 17, 1976	7–4	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	44–24–0
69	W	March 19, 1976	8–3	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	45–24–0
70	L	March 20, 1976	1–2	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	45–25–0
71	W	March 21, 1976	4–3	Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	46–25–0
72	W	March 24, 1976	3–2	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)	47–25–0
73	L	March 25, 1976	3–4 OT	@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	47–26–0
74	W	March 26, 1976	5–1	Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)	48–26–0
75	W	March 28, 1976	7–4	Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	49–26–0
76	L	March 30, 1976	3–4	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	49–27–0
77	W	April 1, 1976	4–1	@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)	50–27–0
78	W	April 3, 1976	8–2	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	51–27–0
79	W	April 4, 1976	5–2	San Diego Mariners (1975–76)	52–27–0
80	W	April 6, 1976	8–5	Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)	53–27–0

Playoffs

Houston Aeros 4, San Diego Mariners 2

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 21	San Diego Mariners	6–8	Houston Aeros	1–0
2	April 23	San Diego Mariners	1–3	Houston Aeros	2–0
3	April 25	Houston Aeros	8–4	San Diego Mariners	3–0
4	April 27	Houston Aeros	2–3	San Diego Mariners	3–1
5	April 28	San Diego Mariners	3–2	Houston Aeros	3–2
6	April 30	Houston Aeros	3–2	San Diego Mariners	4–2

Houston Aeros 4, New England Whalers 3

Ron Grahame stops Tom Webster, Game 7 of the 1976 Semi-finals, May 16, 1976.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	May 5	New England Whalers	4–2	Houston Aeros	0–1
2	May 7	New England Whalers	2–5	Houston Aeros	1–1
3	May 9	Houston Aeros	1–4	New England Whalers	1–2
4	May 11	Houston Aeros	4–3	New England Whalers	2–2
5	May 13	New England Whalers	2–4	Houston Aeros	3–2
6	May 15	Houston Aeros	1–6	New England Whalers	3–3
5	May 16	New England Whalers	0–2	Houston Aeros	4–3

Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 0

Peter Sullivan makes it 8-1 Jets, Game 4 of the 1976 Avco World Trophy Finals, May 27, 1976.

The line of Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg dominated the Finals, scoring 12 goals. Nilsson was voted the WHA Playoff MVP.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	May 20	Winnipeg Jets	4–3	Houston Aeros	0–1
2	May 23	Winnipeg Jets	5–4	Houston Aeros	0–2
3	May 25	Houston Aeros	3–6	Winnipeg Jets	0–3
4	May 27	Houston Aeros	1–9	Winnipeg Jets	0–4

Player Stats

Regular Season
Scoring
# Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG 9 Howe, GordieGordie Howe RW 78 32 70 102 76 14 12 1 4 4 Howe, MarkMark Howe D 72 39 37 76 38 29 13 6 8 7 Hughes, FrankFrank Hughes LW 80 31 45 76 26 12 12 0 6 16 Hinse, AndreAndre Hinse LW 70 35 38 73 6 12 12 0 6 13 Lund, LarryLarry Lund C 73 24 49 73 50 3 6 1 1 10 Labossiere, GordGord Labossiere C 80 23 32 55 18 -1 4 0 3 21 Preston, RichRich Preston RW 77 22 33 55 33 30 1 2 4 27 Larway, DonDon Larway RW 79 30 20 50 56 9 3 0 3 8 Ruskowski, TerryTerry Ruskowski C 65 14 35 49 100 18 3 0 2 11 Hall, MurrayMurray Hall RW 80 20 26 46 18 -3 3 0 8 6 Popiel, PoulPoul Popiel D 78 10 36 46 71 29 2 2 2 14 Taylor, TedTed Taylor LW 68 15 26 41 88 -10 3 0 0 2 Schella, JohnJohn Schella D 74 6 32 38 106 8 0 0 0 3 Howe, MartyMarty Howe D 80 14 23 37 81 40 0 0 2 18 Tonelli, JohnJohn Tonelli LW 79 17 14 31 66 11 3 1 2 17 Hale, LarryLarry Hale D 77 2 12 14 30 7 0 0 1 19 Popiel, JanJan Popiel LW 67 4 7 11 59 -13 0 0 0 24 Irwin, GlenGlen Irwin D 72 3 8 11 116 3 0 0 0 22 Butters, BillBill Butters D 14 0 4 4 18 8 0 0 0 29 Grahame, RonRon Grahame G 57 0 1 1 22 0 0 0 0 Liddington, BobBob Liddington LW 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 Stevens, MikeMike Stevens D 6 0 0 0 2 -2 0 0 0 30 Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge G 25 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Grahame, RonRon Grahame 3343 57 39 17 0 182 3.27 3 Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge 1456 25 14 10 0 77 3.17 1 Team: 4799 80 53 27 0 259 3.24 4

Playoffs
Scoring
# Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG 4 Howe, MarkMark Howe D 17 6 10 16 18 0 0 0 18 Ruskowski, TerryTerry Ruskowski C 16 6 10 16 64 0 0 0 8 Tonelli, JohnJohn Tonelli LW 17 7 7 14 8 0 0 0 27 Larway, DonDon Larway RW 16 7 5 12 21 0 0 0 9 Howe, GordieGordie Howe RW 17 4 8 12 31 0 0 0 21 Preston, RichRich Preston RW 17 4 6 10 8 0 0 0 10 Labossiere, GordGord Labossiere C 17 2 8 10 14 0 0 0 3 Howe, MartyMarty Howe D 16 4 4 8 12 0 0 0 6 Popiel, PoulPoul Popiel D 17 3 5 8 16 0 0 0 2 Schella, JohnJohn Schella D 17 1 6 7 38 0 0 0 7 Hughes, FrankFrank Hughes LW 17 5 1 6 20 0 0 0 16 Hinse, AndreAndre Hinse LW 17 2 3 5 2 0 0 0 11 Hall, MurrayMurray Hall RW 17 1 4 5 0 0 0 0 17 Hale, LarryLarry Hale D 17 0 5 5 8 0 0 0 14 Taylor, TedTed Taylor LW 11 2 2 4 17 0 0 0 22 Butters, BillBill Butters D 17 0 3 3 51 0 0 0 13 Lund, LarryLarry Lund C 5 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 19 Popiel, JanJan Popiel LW 8 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 12 West, SteveSteve West C 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 24 Irwin, GlenGlen Irwin D 5 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 30 Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge G 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 Grahame, RonRon Grahame G 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Grahame, RonRon Grahame 817 14 6 8 54 3.97 1 Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge 200 4 2 1 10 3.00 0 Team: 1017 17 8 9 64 3.78 1

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

• Wayne Rutledge, Goalie, WHA Second Team All-Star

Gallery

Jim Hargreaves, Gordie Howe, Ernie Wakely, November 30, 1975.

Ted Taylor shoots on Cam Newton in the Civics last game, January 15, 1976. Note the jerseys still have the Spurs logo.

Gordie Howe, Jim Harrison, Cam Newton, Terry Ruskowski, March 6, 1976.

Gordie Howe, Gary Kurt, Serge Beaudoin, March 21, 1976.

See Also

• 1975–76 WHA season