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1973–74 Houston Aeros season
World Hockey Association team season
World Hockey Association team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Arena | Sam Houston Coliseum |
| Attendance | 6,811 (73.2%) |
| League | WHA |
| Season | 1973–74 |
| year | 1973 |
| Team | Houston Aeros (WHA)Houston Aeros |
| Record | 48–25–5 |
| HomeRecord | 28–9–2 |
| RoadRecord | 20–16–3 |
| Division | West |
| DivisionRank | 1st |
| GeneralManager | James S. Smith |
| Coach | Bill Dineen |
| Captain | Ted Taylor |
| AltCaptain | Gordie Howe |
| Gord Labossiere | |
| Poul Popiel | |
| GoalsFor | 318 |
| GoalsAgainst | 219 |
| GoalsLeader | Frank Hughes (42) |
| AssistsLeader | Gordie Howe (69) |
| PointsLeader | Gordie Howe (100) |
| PIMLeader | John Schella (170) |
| WinsLeader | Don McLeod (49) |
| GAALeader | Don McLeod (2.56) |
| AvcoCup | yes |
| prev_season | [1972–73](1972-73-houston-aeros-season) |
| next_season | [1974–75](1974-75-houston-aeros-season) |
Gord Labossiere Poul Popiel
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
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| 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
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| Legend:
Player statistics
;Scoring
| a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Player | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Pos | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GP | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | G | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | A | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Pts | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | PIM | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | +/- | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | PPG | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | SHG | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GWG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW | 70 | 31 | 69 | 100 | 46 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 75 | 33 | 53 | 86 | 109 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 73 | 42 | 42 | 84 | 47 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 69 | 24 | 56 | 80 | 39 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 76 | 38 | 41 | 79 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RW | 78 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 25 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 76 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 67 | 19 | 36 | 55 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 78 | 7 | 41 | 48 | 126 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 75 | 21 | 23 | 44 | 143 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 73 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RW | 65 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 73 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 78 | 0 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 69 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 42 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 9 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 41 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 55 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G | 49 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Player | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GP | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | MIN | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | W | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | L | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | T | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GA | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GAA | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Player | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Pos | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GP | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | G | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | A | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Pts | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | PIM | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | PPG | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | SHG | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GWG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 14 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 14 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 14 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RW | 13 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 14 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RW | 14 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 14 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 14 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 14 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 14 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 14 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RW | 14 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 14 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 14 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LW | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | Player | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | MIN | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GP | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | W | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | L | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GA | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | GAA | a | #31ADCE | 2px}}" | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Darcy Rota (F) | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 2 | 23 | Tom Lysiak (F) | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 3 | 35 | Vic Mercredi (LW) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 4 | 48 | Don Cutts (G) | Canada | R.P.I. (ECAC) |
| 5 | 61 | Paul O'Neil (C) | United States | Boston University (ECAC) |
| 6 | 74 | Dennis Owchar (D) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 7 | 87 | Dan Hinton (F) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 8 | 99 | Lee Palmer (D) | Canada | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 9 | 110 | Sean Shanahan (LW) | Canada | Providence College (ECAC) |
References
--
References
- World Hockey Association. (1973). "WHA 1973-74 Media Guide". World Hockey Association.
- World Hockey Association. (1974). "WHA 1974-75 Media Guide". World Hockey Association.
- "1973-74 Houston Aeros Schedule".
- "1973-74 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com.
- "1973 WHA Amateur Draft".
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