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.

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

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 13, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||1–0–0

|2||L||October 14, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||1–1–0

|3||W||October 17, 1973||7–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||2–1–0

|4||L||October 21, 1973||0–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||2–2–0

|5||W||October 24, 1973||6–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||3–2–0

|6||T||October 27, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||3–2–1

|7||L||October 28, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||3–3–1

|8||W||October 30, 1973||6–1 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||4–3–1

|9||W||November 3, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||5–3–1

|10||L||November 7, 1973||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||5–4–1

|11||W||November 10, 1973||8–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||6–4–1

|12||W||November 13, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||7–4–1

|13||L||November 15, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||7–5–1

|14||W||November 17, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||8–5–1

|15||L||November 18, 1973||3–8 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||8–6–1

|16||W||November 21, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||9–6–1

|17||W||November 24, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||10–6–1

|18||W||November 25, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||11–6–1

|19||T||November 28, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||11–6–2

|20||L||November 29, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||11–7–2

|21||T||December 1, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||11–7–3

|22||L||December 2, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||11–8–3

|23||W||December 5, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||12–8–3

|24||L||December 6, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||12–9–3

|25||W||December 9, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||13–9–3

|26||W||December 12, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||14–9–3

|27||W||December 14, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||15–9–3

|28||L||December 15, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||15–10–3

|29||T||December 16, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||15–10–4

|30||W||December 19, 1973||10–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||16–10–4

|31||L||December 21, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||16–11–4

|32||W||December 22, 1973||8–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||17–11–4

|33||L||December 26, 1973||2–3 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||17–12–4

|34||W||December 29, 1973||3–0 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||18–12–4

|35||W||December 30, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||19–12–4

|36||L||January 5, 1974||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||19–13–4

|37||W||January 6, 1974||7–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||20–13–4

|38||W||January 8, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||21–13–4

|39||W||January 12, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||22–13–4

|40||W||January 16, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||23–13–4

|41||W||January 17, 1974||7–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||24–13–4

|42||L||January 19, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||24–14–4

|43||W||January 22, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||25–14–4

|44||W||January 24, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||26–14–4

|45||W||January 26, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||27–14–4

|46||W||January 27, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||28–14–4

|47||L||January 30, 1974||1–5 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||28–15–4

|48||L||January 31, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||28–16–4

|49||L||February 2, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||28–17–4

|50||W||February 4, 1974||7–1 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||29–17–4

|51||W||February 5, 1974||4–0 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||30–17–4

|52||W||February 8, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||31–17–4

|53||T||February 10, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||31–17–5

|54||W||February 12, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||32–17–5

|55||W||February 13, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||33–17–5

|56||W||February 15, 1974||6–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||34–17–5

|57||L||February 17, 1974||1–6 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||34–18–5

|58||W||February 20, 1974||7–2 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||35–18–5

|59||W||February 23, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||36–18–5

|60||W||February 24, 1974||7–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||37–18–5

|61||W||February 26, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||38–18–5

|62||W||February 28, 1974||9–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||39–18–5

|63||L||March 1, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||39–19–5

|64||L||March 3, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||39–20–5

|65||L||March 6, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||39–21–5

|66||W||March 9, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||40–21–5

|67||W||March 12, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||41–21–5

|68||W||March 14, 1974||6–0 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||42–21–5

|69||W||March 17, 1974||4–3 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||43–21–5

|70||W||March 20, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||44–21–5

|71||L||March 21, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||44–22–5

|72||W||March 22, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||45–22–5

|73||L||March 24, 1974||3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||45–23–5

|74||W||March 27, 1974||8–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||46–23–5

|75||L||March 29, 1974||5–7 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||46–24–5

|76||L||March 31, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||46–25–5

|77||W||April 1, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||47–25–5

|78||W||April 3, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||48–25–5

Legend:

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.

| 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

| 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

| 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

Legend:

Player statistics Scoring + Regular season Player RW 70 31 69 100 460935 C 75 33 53 86 10907210 LW 73 42 42 84 4701303 LW 69 24 56 80 3901003 LW 76 38 41 79 200553 RW 78 30 28 58 250825 C 76 30 28 58 180402 C 67 19 36 55 300404 D 78 7 41 48 1260100 LW 75 21 23 44 1430133 D 73 12 19 31 1700023 RW 65 11 18 29 450002 D 73 4 20 24 900001 D 78 0 20 20 260000 D 69 2 14 16 390000 C 42 8 7 15 40003 LW 9 2 6 8 00100 LW 41 1 3 4 20100 D 55 1 2 3 350000 G 49 0 3 3 60000 C 19 2 0 2 00001 G 25 0 1 1 140000 G 4 0 0 0 00000 + GoaltendingPlayer 2971 49 33 13 3 127 2.56 3 1509 25 12 12 1 84 3.34 0 250 4 3 0 1 5 1.20 1 Team: 4730 78 48 25 5 216 2.74 4 Postseason Player C 14 9 14 23 56001 D 14 9 10 19 4001 LW 14 8 9 17 18001 RW 13 3 14 17 34001 C 14 7 9 16 20002 RW 14 9 6 15 6003 D 14 1 14 15 22000 LW 14 9 5 14 9001 C 14 5 7 12 2001 LW 14 4 8 12 60000 D 14 2 6 8 42000 RW 14 1 5 6 23000 D 14 1 5 6 31000 D 14 3 2 5 6001 D 3 0 2 2 2000 G 14 0 0 0 2000 D 10 0 0 0 5000 LW 7 0 0 0 2000 C 10 0 0 0 0000 LW 12 0 0 0 0000

+ Player 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 Gordie Howe, Gary L. Davidson Award (Most Valuable Player) Mark Howe, Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year) Don McLeod, Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender) Gordie Howe, WHA All-Star Team (First Team) Don McLeod, WHA All-Star Team (First Team) Mark Howe, WHA All-Star Team (Second Team)

1974 WHA All-Star Game (January 3, 1974) Poul Popiel Larry Lund Gordie Howe Frank Hughes

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

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)19Darcy Rota (F)Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)223Tom Lysiak (F)Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)335Vic Mercredi (LW)New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)448Don Cutts (G)R.P.I. (ECAC)561Paul O'Neil (C)Boston University (ECAC)674Dennis Owchar (D)Toronto Marlboros (OHA)787Dan Hinton (F)Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)899Lee Palmer (D)Clarkson University (ECAC)9110Sean Shanahan (LW)Providence College (ECAC)

See also 1973–74 WHA season

References