# 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 (WHA). The Aeros again qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Quebec Nordiques.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
| WHA Team | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Winnipeg Jets | 50 | 28 | 2 | 102 | 381 | 270 | 988 |
| New England Whalers | 44 | 31 | 5 | 93 | 335 | 269 | 1255 |
| Houston Aeros | 42 | 34 | 4 | 88 | 296 | 302 | 1543 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 40 | 37 | 3 | 83 | 349 | 347 | 1185 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 38 | 39 | 3 | 79 | 309 | 307 | 1296 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 36 | 41 | 3 | 75 | 287 | 314 | 2177 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 35 | 42 | 3 | 73 | 298 | 332 | 1701 |
| Indianapolis Racers | 24 | 51 | 5 | 53 | 267 | 353 | 1189 |
| Soviet All-Stars | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 36 | 120 |
| Czechoslovakia All-Stars | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 40 | 87 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 12, 1977 | 0–3 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 14, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1977 | 5–1 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 21, 1977 | 6–5 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 2–2–0 |
| 7 | L | October 30, 1977 | 4–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 3–4–0 |
| 13 | W | November 11, 1977 | 5–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 5–8–0 |
| 14 | W | November 18, 1977 | 6–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 6–8–0 |
| 15 | L | November 19, 1977 | 3–4 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 6–9–0 |
| 16 | W | November 23, 1977 | 3–0 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 7–9–0 |
| 17 | W | November 25, 1977 | 3–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 8–9–0 |
| 18 | T | November 30, 1977 | 3–3 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 8–9–1 |
| 19 | L | December 2, 1977 | 2–4 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 8–10–1 |
| 20 | W | December 4, 1977 | 3–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 9–10–1 |
| 21 | L | December 6, 1977 | 3–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 9–11–1 |
| 22 | L | December 7, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 9–12–1 |
| 23 | W | December 9, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 10–12–1 |
| 24 | W | December 11, 1977 | 4–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 11–12–1 |
| 25 | L | December 13, 1977 | 3–5 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 11–13–1 |
| 26 | T | December 15, 1977 | 3–3 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 11–13–2 |
| 27 | W | December 18, 1977 | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia (1977–78) | 12–13–2 |
| 28 | W | December 20, 1977 | 6–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 13–13–2 |
| 29 | L | December 21, 1977 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 13–14–2 |
| 30 | L | December 23, 1977 | 2–6 | Soviet All-Stars (1977–78) | 13–15–2 |
| 31 | W | December 29, 1977 | 7–1 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 14–15–2 |
| 32 | T | December 30, 1977 | 5–5 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 14–15–3 |
| 33 | W | January 1, 1978 | 2–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 15–15–3 |
| 34 | L | January 4, 1978 | 3–5 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 15–16–3 |
| 35 | L | January 6, 1978 | 4–6 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 15–17–3 |
| 36 | L | January 7, 1978 | 1–2 OT | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 15–18–3 |
| 37 | L | January 8, 1978 | 2–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 15–19–3 |
| 38 | W | January 13, 1978 | 3–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 16–19–3 |
| 39 | W | January 14, 1978 | 5–4 OT | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 17–19–3 |
| 40 | W | January 20, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 18–19–3 |
| 41 | W | January 21, 1978 | 5–2 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 19–19–3 |
| 42 | W | January 22, 1978 | 4–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 20–19–3 |
| 43 | W | January 24, 1978 | 6–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 21–19–3 |
| 44 | W | January 26, 1978 | 2–1 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 22–19–3 |
| 45 | L | January 28, 1978 | 0–3 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 22–20–3 |
| 46 | W | January 29, 1978 | 6–4 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 23–20–3 |
| 47 | W | January 31, 1978 | 4–2 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 24–20–3 |
| 48 | L | February 3, 1978 | 0–1 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 24–21–3 |
| 49 | W | February 4, 1978 | 5–4 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 25–21–3 |
| 50 | W | February 9, 1978 | 2–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 26–21–3 |
| 51 | W | February 11, 1978 | 8–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 27–21–3 |
| 52 | L | February 12, 1978 | 5–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 27–22–3 |
| 53 | W | February 15, 1978 | 5–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 28–22–3 |
| 54 | L | February 16, 1978 | 2–5 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 28–23–3 |
| 55 | L | February 17, 1978 | 3–4 OT | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 28–24–3 |
| 56 | W | February 18, 1978 | 3–2 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 29–24–3 |
| 57 | W | February 22, 1978 | 6–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 30–24–3 |
| 58 | L | February 24, 1978 | 4–5 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 30–25–3 |
| 59 | L | February 26, 1978 | 6–9 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 30–26–3 |
| 60 | L | February 28, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 30–27–3 |
| 61 | L | March 1, 1978 | 1–5 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 30–28–3 |
| 62 | W | March 3, 1978 | 3–2 OT | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 31–28–3 |
| 63 | T | March 4, 1978 | 3–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 31–28–4 |
| 64 | W | March 5, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 32–28–4 |
| 65 | W | March 7, 1978 | 4–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 33–28–4 |
| 66 | W | March 9, 1978 | 6–4 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 34–28–4 |
| 67 | L | March 11, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 34–29–4 |
| 68 | W | March 12, 1978 | 6–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 35–29–4 |
| 69 | L | March 17, 1978 | 2–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 35–30–4 |
| 70 | L | March 22, 1978 | 2–9 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 35–31–4 |
| 71 | W | March 24, 1978 | 1–0 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 36–31–4 |
| 72 | W | March 25, 1978 | 4–3 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 37–31–4 |
| 73 | W | March 28, 1978 | 5–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 38–31–4 |
| 74 | W | March 30, 1978 | 5–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 39–31–4 |
| 75 | L | April 2, 1978 | 1–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 39–32–4 |
| 76 | L | April 3, 1978 | 6–8 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 39–33–4 |
| 77 | W | April 4, 1978 | 6–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 40–33–4 |
| 78 | L | April 7, 1978 | 3–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 40–34–4 |
| 79 | W | April 8, 1978 | 5–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 41–34–4 |
| 80 | W | April 9, 1978 | 5–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 42–34–4 |

## Playoffs
### Quebec Nordiques 4, Houston Aeros 2 – Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 16 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–4 | Houston Aeros | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 18 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–4 | Houston Aeros | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 20 | Houston Aeros | 1–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 21 | Houston Aeros | 0–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 23 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–5 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 |
| 6 | April 25 | Houston Aeros | 2–11 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Andre Lacroix | C | 78 | 36 | 77 | 113 | 57 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 80 | 40 | 35 | 75 | 131 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 78 | 15 | 57 | 72 | 170 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 65 | 23 | 41 | 64 | 103 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Larway | RW | 69 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 52 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gray | RW | 77 | 35 | 23 | 58 | 80 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Preston | RW | 73 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 52 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Cam Connor | RW | 68 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 217 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Campbell | D | 75 | 8 | 29 | 37 | 116 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 80 | 6 | 31 | 37 | 53 | −6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steve West | C | 71 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 63 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 125 | −2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| John Hughes | D | 79 | 3 | 25 | 28 | 130 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Lund | C | 76 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 36 | −22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Al McLeod | D | 80 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 54 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Hansis | RW | 78 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 51 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 54 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 46 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Hale | D | 56 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | −10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ernie Wakely | G | 51 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleland Mortson | RW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Irwin | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Mazur | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lynn Zimmerman | G | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ernie Wakely | 3070 | 51 | 28 | 18 | 4 | 166 | 3.24 | 2 |
| Lynn Zimmerman | 1166 | 20 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 84 | 4.32 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | 634 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 47 | 4.45 | 0 |
| Team: | 4870 | 80 | 42 | 34 | 4 | 297 | 3.66 | 2 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Andre Lacroix | C | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Larway | RW | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gray | RW | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Campbell | D | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ron Hansis | RW | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Hughes | D | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Terbenche | D | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Lund | C | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Connor | RW | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al McLeod | D | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve West | C | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleland Mortson | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lynn Zimmerman | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Rutledge | 239 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 5.27 | 0 |
| Lynn Zimmerman | 131 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3.66 | 0 |
| Team: | 370 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 4.70 | 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;

## Draft picks

Houston's draft picks at the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Scott Campbell (D) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 1 | 10 | Dwight Foster (F) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 2 | 21 | Dave Semenko (LW) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 3 | 30 | Glen Hanlon (G) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 4 | 39 | Reg Kerr (D) | Canada | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |
| 5 | 48 | Kevin McCarthy (D) | Canada | Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL) |
| 6 | 57 | Markus Mattsson (G) | Finland | Ilves (Liiga) |
| 7 | 66 | Harald Luckner (F) | Sweden | Farjestads BK (Elitserien) |
| 8 | 74 | Matti Forss (F) | Finland | Lukko Rauma (Liiga) |
| 9 | 82 | Mike Dwyer (LW) | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |
| 10 | 90 | Dave Parro (G) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |