1974–75 Houston Aeros season

The 1974–75 Houston Aeros season was the Aeros' third season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Aeros qualified first in their division for the playoffs and successfully defended their Avco World Trophy WHA championship.

Regular season Larry Lund scored 33 goals and had 108 points on the season. Frank Hughes scored a team high 48 goals. Gordie Howe (at the age of 46) scored 34 goals and had 99 points. Mark Howe had 36 goals and 76 points while Marty Howe had 13 goals and 34 points. In total, the Howe family had 83 goals and 209 points combined during the season. The Aeros ranked first in goals scored and goals against en route to 53 wins, a five-game improvement from their Cup winning season the year before.

Final standings

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 16, 1974||6–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) ||1–0–0

|2||L||October 18, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) ||1–1–0

|3||L||October 19, 1974||2–6 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) ||1–2–0

|4||L||October 22, 1974||2–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) ||1–3–0

|5||L||October 23, 1974||4–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1974–75) ||1–4–0

|6||W||October 26, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) ||2–4–0

|7||W||October 29, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) ||3–4–0

|8||W||October 30, 1974||1–0 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1974–75) ||4–4–0

|9||W||November 2, 1974||8–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) ||5–4–0

|10||W||November 5, 1974||9–3 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1974–75) ||6–4–0

|11||L||November 9, 1974||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) ||6–5–0

|12||W||November 12, 1974||6–1 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1974–75) ||7–5–0

|13||W||November 13, 1974||8–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) ||8–5–0

|14||W||November 16, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1974–75) ||9–5–0

|15||L||November 17, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1974–75) ||9–6–0

|16||W||November 19, 1974||10–0 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) ||10–6–0

|17||W||November 22, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) ||11–6–0

|18||W||November 23, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) ||12–6–0

|19||W||November 24, 1974||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) ||13–6–0

|20||L||November 26, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) ||13–7–0

|21||W||November 28, 1974||2–0 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) ||14–7–0

|22||L||November 30, 1974||4–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) ||14–8–0

|23||W||December 1, 1974||7–3 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) ||15–8–0

|24||W||December 3, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1974–75) ||16–8–0

|25||W||December 4, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) ||17–8–0

|26||L||December 8, 1974||1–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) ||17–9–0

|27||W||December 11, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) ||18–9–0

|28||W||December 14, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) ||19–9–0

|29||L||December 15, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1974–75) ||19–10–0

|30||W||December 17, 1974||7–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) ||20–10–0

|31||L||December 19, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) ||20–11–0

|32||W||December 21, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1974–75) ||21–11–0

|33||W||December 22, 1974||3–0 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) ||22–11–0

|34||W||December 28, 1974||6–1 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1974–75) ||23–11–0

|35||W||December 29, 1974||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) ||24–11–0

|36||W||January 2, 1975||6–3 || align="left"| Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) ||25–11–0

|37||W||January 4, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) ||26–11–0

|38||W||January 11, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) ||27–11–0

|39||L||January 12, 1975||4–7 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1974–75) ||27–12–0

|40||W||January 15, 1975||9–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) ||28–12–0

|41||L||January 18, 1975||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) ||28–13–0

|42||L||January 24, 1975||5–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) ||28–14–0

|43||W||January 26, 1975||3–1 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) ||29–14–0

|44||L||January 28, 1975||5–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) ||29–15–0

|45||L||January 31, 1975||1–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) ||29–16–0

|46||W||February 1, 1975||6–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) ||30–16–0

|47||W||February 2, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| @ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) ||31–16–0

|48||W||February 4, 1975||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) ||32–16–0

|49||W||February 5, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1974–75) ||33–16–0

|50||L||February 6, 1975||3–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) ||33–17–0

|51||L||February 8, 1975||4–6 || align="left"| Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) ||33–18–0

|52||W||February 9, 1975||4–1 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) ||34–18–0

|53||W||February 11, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| @ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) ||35–18–0

|54||W||February 12, 1975||3–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) ||36–18–0

|55||L||February 14, 1975||3–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) ||36–19–0

|56||W||February 17, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) ||37–19–0

|57||W||February 19, 1975||10–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) ||38–19–0

|58||L||February 22, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) ||38–20–0

|59||W||February 23, 1975||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1974–75) ||39–20–0

|60||W||February 26, 1975||9–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) ||40–20–0

|61||W||February 27, 1975||7–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) ||41–20–0

|62||W||March 1, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1974–75) ||42–20–0

|63||W||March 2, 1975||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) ||43–20–0

|64||L||March 6, 1975||4–7 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) ||43–21–0

|65||L||March 8, 1975||4–5 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1974–75) ||43–22–0

|66||W||March 14, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) ||44–22–0

|67||W||March 16, 1975||2–1 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) ||45–22–0

|68||L||March 17, 1975||4–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1974–75) ||45–23–0

|69||W||March 19, 1975||6–5 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) ||46–23–0

|70||W||March 20, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) ||47–23–0

|71||W||March 22, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1974–75) ||48–23–0

|72||L||March 26, 1975||1–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) ||48–24–0

|73||W||March 27, 1975||8–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) ||49–24–0

|74||W||March 29, 1975||8–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) ||50–24–0

|75||W||April 2, 1975||7–6 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) ||51–24–0

|76||W||April 5, 1975||8–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) ||52–24–0

|77||W||April 6, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1974–75) ||53–24–0

|78||L||April 7, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| @ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) ||53–25–0

Legend:

Playoffs During the playoffs, the Aeros lost only once en route to a second consecutive Avco World Trophy. The Aeros defeated the Cleveland Crusaders 4–1 in the Quarter-finals. The Aeros then defeated the San Diego Mariners 4–0 to advance to the Final. In the Final, the Aeros swept the Quebec Nordiques 4–0.

| 1 || April 10 || Cleveland Crusaders || 5–8 || Houston Aeros || 1–0

| 2 || April 12 || Cleveland Crusaders || 3–5 || Houston Aeros || 2–0

| 3 || April 13 || Houston Aeros || 1–3 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2–1

| 4 || April 15 || Houston Aeros || 7–2 || Cleveland Crusaders || 3–1

| 5 || April 17 || Cleveland Crusaders || 1–3 || Houston Aeros || 4–1

| 1 || April 25 || Houston Aeros || 4–0 || San Diego Mariners || 1–0

| 2 || April 27 || Houston Aeros || 2–1 || San Diego Mariners || 2–0

| 3 || April 29 || San Diego Mariners || 0–6 || Houston Aeros || 3–0

| 4 || May 1 || San Diego Mariners || 4–5 OT || Houston Aeros || 4–0

| 1 || May 3 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–6 || Houston Aeros || 1–0

| 2 || May 6 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || Houston Aeros || 2–0

| 3 || May 10 || Houston Aeros || 2–0 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–0

| 4 || May 12 || Houston Aeros || 7–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–0

Legend:

Player statistics Scoring + Regular season Player C 78 33 75 108 68281300 RW 75 34 65 99 8440830 LW 75 39 47 86 12341300 LW 76 48 35 83 35321500 LW 74 36 40 76 3040740 D 78 11 53 64 12341420 C 76 23 34 57 405400 LW 73 26 27 53 1307230 D 78 10 42 52 17643000 C 77 22 25 47 2536100 RW 78 18 29 47 282050 C 71 10 36 46 13430300 RW 78 20 21 41 1025100 RW 76 22 14 36 5926000 D 75 13 21 34 8946010 D 76 2 18 20 4035000 D 70 2 11 13 15338000 D 17 0 3 3 193000 G 43 0 1 1 60000 G 35 0 0 0 00000 + GoaltendingPlayer 2590 43 33 10 0 131 3.03 4 2092 35 20 15 0 113 3.24 2 Team: 4682 78 53 25 0 244 3.13 6

Postseason Player D 13 10 12 22 0003 RW 13 8 12 20 20001 C 13 5 13 18 13001 C 13 6 7 13 4000 LW 13 6 6 12 2001 D 13 1 10 11 34001 RW 13 7 3 10 8002 LW 11 5 4 9 8000 D 13 0 8 8 12000 LW 11 2 5 7 22000 RW 13 1 6 7 6000 C 13 4 2 6 15001 C 13 3 3 6 6002 RW 13 3 1 4 8000 D 13 0 4 4 0000 D 11 0 2 2 11000 D 13 0 2 2 8000 G 13 0 1 1 0000 D 4 0 0 0 0000

+ Player 780 13 12 1 26 2.00 3 Team: 780 13 12 1 26 2.00 3

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 Ron Grahame, Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender) Ron Grahame, WHA Playoff MVP Gordie Howe, WHA All-Star Team (First Team) Ron Grahame, WHA All-Star Team (First Team) Poul Popiel, WHA All-Star Team (Second Team)

1975 WHA All-Star Game (January 21, 1975) Wayne Rutledge John Schella Poul Popiel Gordie Howe Mark Howe Larry Lund Andre Hinse Frank Hughes Ted Taylor

Draft picks Houston's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) WHA Secret Amateur Draft19John Hughes (D)Toronto Marlboros (OHA)115Rich Nantais (LW)Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)230Terry Ruskowski (C)Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) WHA Amateur Draft115Dick Spannbauer (D)University of Minnesota (WCHA)230Pierre Larouche (F)Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)345Pete LoPresti (G)University of Denver (WCHA)460Derek Smith (F)Ottawa 67's (OHA)574Bob Sirois (RW)Montreal Red White and Blue (QMJHL)689Ken Gassoff (C)Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)7104Murray Beck (C)New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)8119Jerry Badiuk (D)Kitchener Rangers (OHA)9134Jan Kascak (D)St. Louis University (CCHA)10147Ron Wilson (D)Providence College (ECAC)11160Bob Ferriter (LW)Boston College (ECAC)12173John McMorrow (F)Providence College (ECAC)13184Craig Norwich (D)University of Wisconsin (WCHA)14192Kevin MacDonald (D)Bowling Green State University (CCHA)15197Ian MacPhee (RW)Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)16201Don Hay (RW)New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

See also 1974–75 WHA season

References