# 1972–73 Houston Aeros season

The 1972–73 Houston Aeros season was the Houston Aeros first season of operation in the newly created World Hockey Association (WHA).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Western Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| Winnipeg Jets | 78 | 43 | 31 | 4 | 285 | 249 | 757 | 90 |
| Houston Aeros | 78 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 284 | 269 | 1363 | 82 |
| Los Angeles Sharks | 78 | 37 | 35 | 6 | 259 | 250 | 1477 | 80 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 250 | 269 | 843 | 79 |
| Alberta Oilers | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 269 | 256 | 1134 | 79 |
| Chicago Cougars | 78 | 26 | 50 | 2 | 245 | 295 | 811 | 54 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 12, 1972 | 3–2 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 13, 1972 | 3–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 15, 1972 | 1–5 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 18, 1972 | 1–4 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | W | October 19, 1972 | 5–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | L | October 21, 1972 | 2–3 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | L | October 24, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | W | October 26, 1972 | 7–3 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | L | October 29, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 4–5–0 |
| 10 | W | October 31, 1972 | 4–3 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 5–5–0 |
| 11 | L | November 3, 1972 | 3–4 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 5–6–0 |
| 12 | L | November 5, 1972 | 0–4 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 5–7–0 |
| 13 | W | November 7, 1972 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 6–7–0 |
| 14 | L | November 11, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 6–8–0 |
| 15 | T | November 13, 1972 | 4–4 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 6–8–1 |
| 16 | L | November 15, 1972 | 4–6 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 6–9–1 |
| 17 | W | November 19, 1972 | 4–2 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 7–9–1 |
| 18 | L | November 21, 1972 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 7–10–1 |
| 19 | W | November 23, 1972 | 6–5 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 8–10–1 |
| 20 | W | November 25, 1972 | 3–1 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 9–10–1 |
| 21 | W | November 28, 1972 | 3–1 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 10–10–1 |
| 22 | L | November 30, 1972 | 3–6 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 10–11–1 |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1972 | 7–2 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 11–11–1 |
| 24 | L | December 3, 1972 | 4–5 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 11–12–1 |
| 25 | L | December 5, 1972 | 4–6 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 11–13–1 |
| 26 | L | December 7, 1972 | 0–3 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 11–14–1 |
| 27 | L | December 8, 1972 | 2–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 11–15–1 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1972 | 6–4 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 12–15–1 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1972 | 2–3 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 12–16–1 |
| 30 | W | December 15, 1972 | 3–2 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 13–16–1 |
| 31 | T | December 17, 1972 | 4–4 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 13–16–2 |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1972 | 7–5 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 14–16–2 |
| 33 | W | December 23, 1972 | 7–3 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 15–16–2 |
| 34 | T | December 26, 1972 | 3–3 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 15–16–3 |
| 35 | W | December 29, 1972 | 4–2 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 16–16–3 |
| 36 | L | December 30, 1972 | 3–4 OT | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 16–17–3 |
| 37 | T | January 1, 1973 | 4–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 16–17–4 |
| 38 | W | January 9, 1973 | 7–5 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 17–17–4 |
| 39 | W | January 11, 1973 | 5–0 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 18–17–4 |
| 40 | W | January 13, 1973 | 6–2 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 19–17–4 |
| 41 | W | January 15, 1973 | 5–4 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 20–17–4 |
| 42 | L | January 17, 1973 | 0–5 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 20–18–4 |
| 43 | W | January 18, 1973 | 8–3 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 21–18–4 |
| 44 | W | January 20, 1973 | 4–3 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 22–18–4 |
| 45 | W | January 21, 1973 | 5–2 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 23–18–4 |
| 46 | W | January 23, 1973 | 11–3 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 24–18–4 |
| 47 | W | January 25, 1973 | 5–2 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 25–18–4 |
| 48 | W | January 28, 1973 | 4–3 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 26–18–4 |
| 49 | L | January 30, 1973 | 2–5 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 26–19–4 |
| 50 | L | February 1, 1973 | 4–5 OT | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 26–20–4 |
| 51 | W | February 3, 1973 | 7–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 27–20–4 |
| 52 | L | February 5, 1973 | 3–6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 27–21–4 |
| 53 | W | February 7, 1973 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 28–21–4 |
| 54 | L | February 8, 1973 | 1–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 28–22–4 |
| 55 | L | February 10, 1973 | 0–3 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 28–23–4 |
| 56 | L | February 13, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 28–24–4 |
| 57 | W | February 15, 1973 | 5–3 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 29–24–4 |
| 58 | L | February 16, 1973 | 0–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 29–25–4 |
| 59 | L | February 18, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 29–26–4 |
| 60 | W | February 22, 1973 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 30–26–4 |
| 61 | W | February 25, 1973 | 4–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 31–26–4 |
| 62 | W | February 27, 1973 | 5–4 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 32–26–4 |
| 63 | W | February 28, 1973 | 3–2 OT | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 33–26–4 |
| 64 | L | March 3, 1973 | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 33–27–4 |
| 65 | L | March 4, 1973 | 3–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 33–28–4 |
| 66 | W | March 7, 1973 | 3–1 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 34–28–4 |
| 67 | L | March 9, 1973 | 1–5 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 34–29–4 |
| 68 | W | March 11, 1973 | 4–2 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 35–29–4 |
| 69 | L | March 13, 1973 | 3–4 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 35–30–4 |
| 70 | L | March 14, 1973 | 1–5 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 35–31–4 |
| 71 | L | March 18, 1973 | 2–3 OT | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 35–32–4 |
| 72 | W | March 19, 1973 | 5–1 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 36–32–4 |
| 73 | L | March 21, 1973 | 3–7 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 36–33–4 |
| 74 | L | March 25, 1973 | 2–4 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 36–34–4 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1973 | 6–1 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 37–34–4 |
| 76 | W | March 29, 1973 | 5–3 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 38–34–4 |
| 77 | L | March 31, 1973 | 1–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 38–35–4 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1973 | 6–3 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 39–35–4 |

## Playoffs
### Houston Aeros 4, Los Angeles Sharks 2 - Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 5 | Los Angeles Sharks | 2–7 | Houston Aeros | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 7 | Los Angeles Sharks | 4–2 | Houston Aeros | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 11 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 | Los Angeles Sharks | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 13 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 OT | Los Angeles Sharks | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 15 | Los Angeles Sharks | 3–6 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 |
| 6 | April 17 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 | Los Angeles Sharks | 4–2 |

### Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 0 - Division Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 22 | Houston Aeros | 1–5 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 24 | Houston Aeros | 0–2 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 26 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–4 | Houston Aeros | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 29 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–3 | Houston Aeros | 0–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gord Labossiere | C | 78 | 36 | 60 | 96 | 56 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 73 | 34 | 42 | 76 | 103 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Murray Hall | RW | 76 | 28 | 42 | 70 | 84 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| Larry Lund | C | 77 | 21 | 45 | 66 | 120 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 73 | 16 | 48 | 64 | 158 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Don Grierson | RW | 78 | 22 | 22 | 44 | 83 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Duke Harris | RW | 75 | 30 | 12 | 42 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 77 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian McDonald | C | 71 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Hoekstra | C | 78 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Hale | D | 68 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleland Mortson | RW | 67 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 95 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dunc McCallum | D | 69 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 112 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 77 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 239 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jack Stanfield | LW | 71 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Smith | LW | 48 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Larose | D | 68 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Kannegiesser | D | 45 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Prentice | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Hughes | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | G | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Rutledge | 2163 | 36 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 110 | 3.05 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | 2410 | 41 | 19 | 20 | 1 | 143 | 3.56 | 1 |
| Bill Hughes | 170 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3.88 | 0 |
| Team: | 4743 | 78 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 264 | 3.34 | 1 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Poul Popiel | D | 10 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Lund | C | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Murray Hall | RW | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Dunc McCallum | D | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Labossiere | C | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brian McDonald | C | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Hale | D | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Hoekstra | C | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleland Mortson | RW | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Duke Harris | RW | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Smith | LW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Stanfield | LW | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Kannegiesser | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Grierson | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Rutledge | 423 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 2.84 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | 178 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2.70 | 0 |
| Team: | 601 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 2.80 | 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;