# 1975–76 Houston Aeros season

The 1975–76 Houston Aeros season was the 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

| Western Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Houston Aeros | 80 | 53 | 27 | 0 | 106 | 341 | 263 | 1093 |
| Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 39 | 35 | 6 | 84 | 302 | 287 | 1292 |
| San Diego Mariners | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 78 | 303 | 290 | 716 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 59 | 30 | 25 | 4 | 64 | 211 | 212 | 1354 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 11, 1975 | 5–0 | @ New England Whalers (1975–76) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 14, 1975 | 3–6 | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 18, 1975 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 19, 1975 | 6–5 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 23, 1975 | 0–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 25, 1975 | 4–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | W | October 30, 1975 | 4–2 | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | W | November 1, 1975 | 3–2 | @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | W | November 5, 1975 | 6–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 5–4–0 |
| 10 | W | November 7, 1975 | 5–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 6–4–0 |
| 11 | W | November 9, 1975 | 3–2 | Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 7–4–0 |
| 12 | W | November 11, 1975 | 5–4 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 8–4–0 |
| 13 | L | November 12, 1975 | 1–4 | @ New England Whalers (1975–76) | 8–5–0 |
| 14 | L | November 15, 1975 | 5–8 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 8–6–0 |
| 15 | L | November 16, 1975 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) | 8–7–0 |
| 16 | W | November 18, 1975 | 3–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 9–7–0 |
| 17 | W | November 21, 1975 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 10–7–0 |
| 18 | W | November 23, 1975 | 4–0 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 11–7–0 |
| 19 | W | November 25, 1975 | 4–1 | Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 12–7–0 |
| 20 | W | November 28, 1975 | 7–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 13–7–0 |
| 21 | W | November 30, 1975 | 8–4 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 14–7–0 |
| 22 | L | December 2, 1975 | 2–5 | New England Whalers (1975–76) | 14–8–0 |
| 23 | W | December 5, 1975 | 5–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 15–8–0 |
| 24 | L | December 6, 1975 | 5–6 OT | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 15–9–0 |
| 25 | W | December 9, 1975 | 6–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 16–9–0 |
| 26 | W | December 12, 1975 | 4–2 | Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 17–9–0 |
| 27 | L | December 13, 1975 | 3–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 17–10–0 |
| 28 | W | December 14, 1975 | 4–3 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 18–10–0 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1975 | 2–4 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 18–11–0 |
| 30 | W | December 20, 1975 | 4–3 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 19–11–0 |
| 31 | L | December 21, 1975 | 1–3 | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 19–12–0 |
| 32 | W | December 26, 1975 | 9–4 | Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 20–12–0 |
| 33 | W | December 27, 1975 | 5–0 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 21–12–0 |
| 34 | L | December 30, 1975 | 3–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 21–13–0 |
| 35 | W | January 3, 1976 | 4–2 | Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 22–13–0 |
| 36 | W | January 6, 1976 | 7–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 23–13–0 |
| 37 | W | January 9, 1976 | 6–5 | Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 24–13–0 |
| 38 | W | January 10, 1976 | 4–1 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 25–13–0 |
| 39 | W | January 11, 1976 | 5–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 26–13–0 |
| 40 | L | January 14, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 26–14–0 |
| 41 | W | January 15, 1976 | 5–4 OT | @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 27–14–0 |
| 42 | L | January 17, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) | 27–15–0 |
| 43 | L | January 20, 1976 | 5–7 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 27–16–0 |
| 44 | W | January 21, 1976 | 9–3 | New England Whalers (1975–76) | 28–16–0 |
| 45 | W | January 23, 1976 | 2–0 | Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) | 29–16–0 |
| 46 | W | January 25, 1976 | 5–3 | Calgary Cowboys (1975–76) | 30–16–0 |
| 47 | W | January 28, 1976 | 6–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 31–16–0 |
| 48 | L | January 30, 1976 | 1–2 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 31–17–0 |
| 49 | L | January 31, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 31–18–0 |
| 50 | W | February 3, 1976 | 8–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 32–18–0 |
| 51 | W | February 6, 1976 | 4–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 33–18–0 |
| 52 | W | February 8, 1976 | 5–2 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 34–18–0 |
| 53 | W | February 12, 1976 | 4–1 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 35–18–0 |
| 54 | L | February 14, 1976 | 1–5 | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 35–19–0 |
| 55 | L | February 15, 1976 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 35–20–0 |
| 56 | W | February 17, 1976 | 4–3 | New England Whalers (1975–76) | 36–20–0 |
| 57 | W | February 19, 1976 | 5–3 | Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 37–20–0 |
| 58 | L | February 22, 1976 | 1–2 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 37–21–0 |
| 59 | L | February 24, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 37–22–0 |
| 60 | W | February 26, 1976 | 5–2 | @ New England Whalers (1975–76) | 38–22–0 |
| 61 | W | February 27, 1976 | 7–6 OT | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 39–22–0 |
| 62 | W | February 28, 1976 | 4–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 40–22–0 |
| 63 | W | March 5, 1976 | 6–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 41–22–0 |
| 64 | L | March 6, 1976 | 4–5 | Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 41–23–0 |
| 65 | W | March 9, 1976 | 9–2 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 42–23–0 |
| 66 | L | March 11, 1976 | 1–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 42–24–0 |
| 67 | W | March 13, 1976 | 3–2 | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 43–24–0 |
| 68 | W | March 17, 1976 | 7–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 44–24–0 |
| 69 | W | March 19, 1976 | 8–3 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 45–24–0 |
| 70 | L | March 20, 1976 | 1–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 45–25–0 |
| 71 | W | March 21, 1976 | 4–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 46–25–0 |
| 72 | W | March 24, 1976 | 3–2 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 47–25–0 |
| 73 | L | March 25, 1976 | 3–4 OT | @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 47–26–0 |
| 74 | W | March 26, 1976 | 5–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 48–26–0 |
| 75 | W | March 28, 1976 | 7–4 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 49–26–0 |
| 76 | L | March 30, 1976 | 3–4 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 49–27–0 |
| 77 | W | April 1, 1976 | 4–1 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 50–27–0 |
| 78 | W | April 3, 1976 | 8–2 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 51–27–0 |
| 79 | W | April 4, 1976 | 5–2 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 52–27–0 |
| 80 | W | April 6, 1976 | 8–5 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 53–27–0 |

## 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.

### Houston Aeros 4, San Diego Mariners 2 – Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 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 |

### Houston Aeros 4, New England Whalers 3 – Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 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 |

### Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 0 – Avco Cup Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 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 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gordie Howe | RW | 78 | 32 | 70 | 102 | 76 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 4 |
| Mark Howe | D | 72 | 39 | 37 | 76 | 38 | 29 | 13 | 6 | 8 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 80 | 31 | 45 | 76 | 26 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| Andre Hinse | LW | 70 | 35 | 38 | 73 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| Larry Lund | C | 73 | 24 | 49 | 73 | 50 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Gord Labossiere | C | 80 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 18 | -1 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Rich Preston | RW | 77 | 22 | 33 | 55 | 33 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Don Larway | RW | 79 | 30 | 20 | 50 | 56 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 65 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 100 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Murray Hall | RW | 80 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 18 | -3 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 78 | 10 | 36 | 46 | 71 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 68 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 88 | -10 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 74 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 106 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marty Howe | D | 80 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 81 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 79 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 66 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Larry Hale | D | 77 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan Popiel | LW | 67 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 59 | -13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Irwin | D | 72 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 116 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Butters | D | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Grahame | G | 57 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Liddington | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Stevens | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ron Grahame | 3343 | 57 | 39 | 17 | 0 | 182 | 3.27 | 3 |
| Wayne Rutledge | 1456 | 25 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 77 | 3.17 | 1 |
| Team: | 4799 | 80 | 53 | 27 | 0 | 259 | 3.24 | 4 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mark Howe | D | 17 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 16 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 17 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Larway | RW | 16 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gordie Howe | RW | 17 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Preston | RW | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Labossiere | C | 17 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marty Howe | D | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 17 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 17 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Hinse | LW | 17 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murray Hall | RW | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Hale | D | 17 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Butters | D | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Lund | C | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan Popiel | LW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve West | C | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Grahame | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Irwin | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ron Grahame | 817 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 54 | 3.97 | 1 |
| Wayne Rutledge | 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;

## Draft picks

Houston's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 15 | Richard Mulhern (D) | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 30 | Doug Jarvis (C) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 3 | 45 | Kevin Campbell (D) | Canada | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| 4 | 60 | Dave Salvian (LW) | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 5 | 74 | Paul Crowley (RW) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 6 | 88 | Bill Cheropita (G) | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 7 | 101 | John Glynne (D) | United States | University of Vermont (ECAC) |
| 8 | 113 | Dave Taylor (F) | Canada | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 9 | 125 | Jim Maxfield (D) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 10 | 138 | Chad Campbell (LW) | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 11 | 150 | Bill Oleschuk (G) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 12 | 160 | Jim Lundquist (D) | United States | Brown University (ECAC) |
| 13 | 169 | Rick St. Croix (G) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 14 | 175 | Paul Jensen (D) | United States | Michigan Tech University (WCHA) |