1975–76 Houston Aeros season

The 1975–76 Houston Aeros season was the Houston Aeros' fourth season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Aeros again qualified first for the playoffs and made it to the Avco Cup Final but lost the championship to the Winnipeg Jets. This was the first season that the Aeros played in the Summit after three seasons at Sam Houston Coliseum.

Regular season Gordie Howe scored 102 points, while his son Mark led the team with 39 goals.

Final standings

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 11, 1975||5–0 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||1–0–0

|2||L||October 14, 1975||3–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||1–1–0

|3||L||October 18, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||1–2–0

|4||W||October 19, 1975||6–5 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||2–2–0

|5||L||October 23, 1975||0–4 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||2–3–0

|6||L||October 25, 1975||4–7 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||2–4–0

|7||W||October 30, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||3–4–0

|8||W||November 1, 1975||3–2 || align="left"| @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||4–4–0

|9||W||November 5, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||5–4–0

|10||W||November 7, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||6–4–0

|11||W||November 9, 1975||3–2 || align="left"| Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||7–4–0

|12||W||November 11, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||8–4–0

|13||L||November 12, 1975||1–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||8–5–0

|14||L||November 15, 1975||5–8 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||8–6–0

|15||L||November 16, 1975||3–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) ||8–7–0

|16||W||November 18, 1975||3–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||9–7–0

|17||W||November 21, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||10–7–0

|18||W||November 23, 1975||4–0 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||11–7–0

|19||W||November 25, 1975||4–1 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||12–7–0

|20||W||November 28, 1975||7–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||13–7–0

|21||W||November 30, 1975||8–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||14–7–0

|22||L||December 2, 1975||2–5 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||14–8–0

|23||W||December 5, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||15–8–0

|24||L||December 6, 1975||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||15–9–0

|25||W||December 9, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||16–9–0

|26||W||December 12, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||17–9–0

|27||L||December 13, 1975||3–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||17–10–0

|28||W||December 14, 1975||4–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||18–10–0

|29||L||December 16, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||18–11–0

|30||W||December 20, 1975||4–3 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||19–11–0

|31||L||December 21, 1975||1–3 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||19–12–0

|32||W||December 26, 1975||9–4 || align="left"| Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||20–12–0

|33||W||December 27, 1975||5–0 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||21–12–0

|34||L||December 30, 1975||3–5 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||21–13–0

|35||W||January 3, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||22–13–0

|36||W||January 6, 1976||7–3 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||23–13–0

|37||W||January 9, 1976||6–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||24–13–0

|38||W||January 10, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||25–13–0

|39||W||January 11, 1976||5–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||26–13–0

|40||L||January 14, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||26–14–0

|41||W||January 15, 1976||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||27–14–0

|42||L||January 17, 1976||2–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) ||27–15–0

|43||L||January 20, 1976||5–7 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||27–16–0

|44||W||January 21, 1976||9–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||28–16–0

|45||W||January 23, 1976||2–0 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) ||29–16–0

|46||W||January 25, 1976||5–3 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) ||30–16–0

|47||W||January 28, 1976||6–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||31–16–0

|48||L||January 30, 1976||1–2 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||31–17–0

|49||L||January 31, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||31–18–0

|50||W||February 3, 1976||8–4 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||32–18–0

|51||W||February 6, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||33–18–0

|52||W||February 8, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||34–18–0

|53||W||February 12, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||35–18–0

|54||L||February 14, 1976||1–5 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||35–19–0

|55||L||February 15, 1976||2–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||35–20–0

|56||W||February 17, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||36–20–0

|57||W||February 19, 1976||5–3 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||37–20–0

|58||L||February 22, 1976||1–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||37–21–0

|59||L||February 24, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||37–22–0

|60||W||February 26, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||38–22–0

|61||W||February 27, 1976||7–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||39–22–0

|62||W||February 28, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||40–22–0

|63||W||March 5, 1976||6–3 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||41–22–0

|64||L||March 6, 1976||4–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||41–23–0

|65||W||March 9, 1976||9–2 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||42–23–0

|66||L||March 11, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||42–24–0

|67||W||March 13, 1976||3–2 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||43–24–0

|68||W||March 17, 1976||7–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||44–24–0

|69||W||March 19, 1976||8–3 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||45–24–0

|70||L||March 20, 1976||1–2 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||45–25–0

|71||W||March 21, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||46–25–0

|72||W||March 24, 1976||3–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||47–25–0

|73||L||March 25, 1976||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||47–26–0

|74||W||March 26, 1976||5–1 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||48–26–0

|75||W||March 28, 1976||7–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||49–26–0

|76||L||March 30, 1976||3–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||49–27–0

|77||W||April 1, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||50–27–0

|78||W||April 3, 1976||8–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||51–27–0

|79||W||April 4, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||52–27–0

|80||W||April 6, 1976||8–5 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||53–27–0

Legend:

Playoffs

The Aeros defeated the San Diego Mariners in the quarter-final round 4–2. The Aeros next defeated the New England Whalers 4–3 in the semi-final round to advance to the Final. While the Aeros won the series, they had nothing left for the Final and the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Aeros 4–0 to win the Avco Cup.

| 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

| 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

| 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

Legend:

Player statistics Scoring + Regular season Player RW 78 32 70 102 76141214 LW 72 39 37 76 38291368 LW 80 31 45 76 26121206 LW 70 35 38 73 6121206 C 73 24 49 73 503611 C 80 23 32 55 18-1403 RW 77 22 33 55 3330124 RW 79 30 20 50 569303 C 65 14 35 49 10018302 RW 80 20 26 46 18-3308 D 78 10 36 46 7129222 LW 68 15 26 41 88-10300 D 74 6 32 38 1068000 D 80 14 23 37 8140002 LW 79 17 14 31 6611312 D 77 2 12 14 307001 LW 67 4 7 11 59-13000 D 72 3 8 11 1163000 D 14 0 4 4 188000 G 57 0 1 1 220000 LW 2 0 0 0 20000 G 25 0 0 0 60000 D 6 0 0 0 2-2000 + GoaltendingPlayer 3343 57 39 17 0 182 3.27 3 1456 25 14 10 0 77 3.17 1 Team: 4799 80 53 27 0 259 3.24 4 Player D 17 6 10 16 18000 C 16 6 10 16 64000 LW 17 7 7 14 8000 RW 16 7 5 12 21000 RW 17 4 8 12 31000 RW 17 4 6 10 8000 C 17 2 8 10 14000 D 16 4 4 8 12000 D 17 3 5 8 16000 D 17 1 6 7 38000 LW 17 5 1 6 20000 LW 17 2 3 5 2000 RW 17 1 4 5 0000 D 17 0 5 5 8000 LW 11 2 2 4 17000 D 17 0 3 3 51000 C 5 1 1 2 4000 LW 8 1 1 2 4000 C 7 0 1 1 0000 G 14 0 0 0 0000 D 5 0 0 0 9000 G 4 0 0 0 0000 + Player 817 14 6 8 54 3.97 1 200 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

Ron Grahame, WHA All-Star Team (Second Team)

WHA All-Star Game (January 13, 1976) John Schella Marty Howe Gordie Howe Mark Howe

Draft picks Houston's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)115Richard Mulhern (D)Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)230Doug Jarvis (C)Peterborough Petes (OHA)345Kevin Campbell (D)St. Lawrence University (ECAC)460Dave Salvian (LW)St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)574Paul Crowley (RW)Sudbury Wolves (OHA)688Bill Cheropita (G)St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)7101John Glynne (D)University of Vermont (ECAC)8113Dave Taylor (F)Clarkson University (ECAC)9125Jim Maxfield (D)Sudbury Wolves (OHA)10138Chad Campbell (LW)University of Denver (WCHA)11150Bill Oleschuk (G)Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)12160Jim Lundquist (D)Brown University (ECAC)13169Rick St. Croix (G)Oshawa Generals (OHA)14175Paul Jensen (D)Michigan Tech University (WCHA)

See also 1975–76 WHA season

References