Houston Aeros (WHA)
Encyclopedia
The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey
team in the World Hockey Association
from 1972 to 1978.
when the Dayton
Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972. The Dayton entry was doomed from the beginning because a lack of a proper arena and little interest from the local residents. Due to these problems, owner Paul Deneau moved the team to Houston, Texas
. In Houston, the team would become one of the most successful franchises in the World Hockey Association.
The Aeros were the Western Division Champions from 1973–74 to 1976–77 seasons, as well as finishing second in the Western Division in 1972–73 and third in the league in 1977–78. They won the AVCO World Trophy
in 1974 over the Chicago Cougars
and in 1975 over the Quebec Nordiques
, winning both series in a four-game sweep; and lost in the 1976 AVCO finals to the Winnipeg Jets, also in a sweep.
In 1977, merger discussions with the National Hockey League
were first initiated. Houston, along with Cincinnati
, Winnipeg, New England, Quebec, and Edmonton
applied for entry into the NHL. After a lengthy debate, the NHL voted the proposal down.
Merger discussions resumed in 1978. However, the NHL was only open to taking four teams this time, and the WHA insisted that all three of its Canadian teams be included in the merger. During the final series of talks, Aeros owner Kenneth Schnitzer proposed to move the Aeros to the NHL as an expansion team independent of a merger, or be allowed to purchase an existing club and relocate it to Houston. Neither came to fruition, and the Aeros folded on July 9, 1978.
Bill Dineen was the Aeros head coach during their entire stay in the World Hockey Association.
Among the players for the Aeros were Gordie Howe
and his two sons Mark
and Marty
, who became the first father/son combination to play together in professional hockey.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
from 1972 to 1978.
Franchise history
The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
when the Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972. The Dayton entry was doomed from the beginning because a lack of a proper arena and little interest from the local residents. Due to these problems, owner Paul Deneau moved the team to Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. In Houston, the team would become one of the most successful franchises in the World Hockey Association.
The Aeros were the Western Division Champions from 1973–74 to 1976–77 seasons, as well as finishing second in the Western Division in 1972–73 and third in the league in 1977–78. They won the AVCO World Trophy
Avco World Trophy
The Avco World Trophy, also known as the Avco Cup, was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association . The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation , a defense contractor who bought the rights to advertise their consumer finance division...
in 1974 over the Chicago Cougars
Chicago Cougars
The Chicago Cougars were an original franchise in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the dilapidated International Amphitheatre. During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals against Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros, the team's two home games were played at...
and in 1975 over the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, winning both series in a four-game sweep; and lost in the 1976 AVCO finals to the Winnipeg Jets, also in a sweep.
In 1977, merger discussions with the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
were first initiated. Houston, along with Cincinnati
Cincinnati Stingers
The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
, Winnipeg, New England, Quebec, and Edmonton
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
applied for entry into the NHL. After a lengthy debate, the NHL voted the proposal down.
Merger discussions resumed in 1978. However, the NHL was only open to taking four teams this time, and the WHA insisted that all three of its Canadian teams be included in the merger. During the final series of talks, Aeros owner Kenneth Schnitzer proposed to move the Aeros to the NHL as an expansion team independent of a merger, or be allowed to purchase an existing club and relocate it to Houston. Neither came to fruition, and the Aeros folded on July 9, 1978.
Bill Dineen was the Aeros head coach during their entire stay in the World Hockey Association.
Among the players for the Aeros were Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
and his two sons Mark
Mark Howe
Mark Steven Howe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association . He is the son of Colleen and Gordie Howe, and early in his career was a teammate of his father...
and Marty
Marty Howe
Marty Gordon Howe is a former professional ice hockey defenseman. Howe was drafted in the third round, 51st overall in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. From 2001 to 2006, he was an assistant coach for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL...
, who became the first father/son combination to play together in professional hockey.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972–73 1972–73 Houston Aeros season -Game log:-Player stats: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... |
78 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 82 | 284 | 269 | 1363 | 2nd, Western | Won Quarter-final (Los Angeles Los Angeles Sharks The Los Angeles Sharks were an ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1974. Their primary home arena was the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena but they sometimes played at the Long Beach Sports Arena when the Sports Arena had other contractual obligations... ) Lost Semi-final (Winnipeg) |
| 1973–74 1973–74 Houston Aeros season The 1973–74 Houston Aeros season was the Houston Aeros second season of operation in the World Hockey Association . The season saw the debut of Gordie Howe and his sons in the WHA. The team would win the Avco World Trophy WHA championship.-Game log:... |
78 | 48 | 25 | 5 | 101 | 318 | 219 | 1038 | 1st, Western | Won Quarter-final (Winnipeg) Won Semi-final (Minnesota Minnesota Fighting Saints The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and... ) Won in Final (Chicago Chicago Cougars The Chicago Cougars were an original franchise in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the dilapidated International Amphitheatre. During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals against Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros, the team's two home games were played at... ) |
| 1974–75 1974–75 Houston Aeros season The 1974–75 Houston Aeros season was the Aeros' third season of operation in the World Hockey Association . The Aeros qualified first in their division for the playoffs and successfully defended their Avco World Trophy WHA championship.-Game log:... |
78 | 53 | 25 | 0 | 106 | 369 | 247 | 1257 | 1st, Western | Won Quarter-final (Cleveland Cleveland Crusaders The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976... ) Won Semi-final (San Diego San Diego Mariners The San Diego Mariners were an ice hockey team based in San Diego that played in the World Hockey Association. They played from 1974 to 1977. Their home ice was San Diego Sports Arena... ) Won in Final (Quebec Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... ) |
| 1975–76 | 80 | 53 | 27 | 0 | 106 | 341 | 263 | 1093 | 1st, Western | Won Quarter-final (San Diego San Diego Mariners The San Diego Mariners were an ice hockey team based in San Diego that played in the World Hockey Association. They played from 1974 to 1977. Their home ice was San Diego Sports Arena... ) Won Semi-final (New England Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... ) Lost in Final (Winnipeg) |
| 1976–77 | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 106 | 320 | 241 | 1432 | 1st, Western | Won Quarter-final (Edmonton Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... ) Lost Semi-final (Winnipeg) |
| 1977–78 1977–78 Houston Aeros season The 1977–78 Houston Aeros season was the Houston Aeros' sixth and final season of operation in the World Hockey Association . The Aeros again qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Quebec Nordiques.-Game log:-Player stats:... |
80 | 42 | 34 | 4 | 88 | 296 | 302 | 1543 | 3rd, League | Lost Quarter-final (Quebec Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... ) |
| Totals | 474 | 285 | 170 | 19 | 589 | 1928 | 1541 | 7726 |
See also
- List of WHA seasons
- Houston AerosHouston AerosThe Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
, the AHL franchise named after the original Aeros