# 1976–77 Houston Aeros season

The 1976–77 Houston Aeros season was the Aeros' fifth season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The Aeros finished first in the West to qualify for the playoffs. The Aeros would lose in the semi-finals to the Winnipeg Jets.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Western Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Houston Aeros | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 320 | 241 | 106 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 46 | 32 | 2 | 366 | 291 | 94 |
| San Diego Mariners | 81 | 40 | 37 | 4 | 284 | 283 | 85 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 81 | 34 | 43 | 4 | 243 | 304 | 72 |
| Calgary Cowboys | 81 | 31 | 43 | 7 | 252 | 296 | 69 |
| Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 281 | 383 | 60 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 8, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 9, 1976 | 5–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 13, 1976 | 2–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | W | October 16, 1976 | 3–0 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | T | October 19, 1976 | 4–4 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | L | October 21, 1976 | 5–8 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1976 | 2–5 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | L | October 23, 1976 | 2–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | W | October 26, 1976 | 3–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 4–4–1 |
| 10 | T | October 28, 1976 | 1–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 4–4–2 |
| 11 | L | October 30, 1976 | 4–6 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 4–5–2 |
| 12 | W | October 31, 1976 | 4–0 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 5–5–2 |
| 13 | W | November 2, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 6–5–2 |
| 14 | W | November 5, 1976 | 9–1 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 7–5–2 |
| 15 | L | November 6, 1976 | 1–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 7–6–2 |
| 16 | W | November 9, 1976 | 7–2 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 8–6–2 |
| 17 | W | November 12, 1976 | 4–1 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 9–6–2 |
| 18 | W | November 16, 1976 | 4–2 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 10–6–2 |
| 19 | L | November 19, 1976 | 3–5 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 10–7–2 |
| 20 | W | November 20, 1976 | 5–2 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 11–7–2 |
| 21 | W | November 23, 1976 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 12–7–2 |
| 22 | T | November 26, 1976 | 1–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 12–7–3 |
| 23 | T | December 3, 1976 | 0–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 12–7–4 |
| 24 | L | December 5, 1976 | 2–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 12–8–4 |
| 25 | L | December 8, 1976 | 1–5 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 12–9–4 |
| 26 | L | December 10, 1976 | 2–6 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 12–10–4 |
| 27 | L | December 11, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 12–11–4 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 13–11–4 |
| 29 | W | December 14, 1976 | 8–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 14–11–4 |
| 30 | L | December 17, 1976 | 3–4 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 14–12–4 |
| 31 | L | December 18, 1976 | 3–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 14–13–4 |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1976 | 6–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 15–13–4 |
| 33 | W | December 21, 1976 | 4–0 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 16–13–4 |
| 34 | W | December 23, 1976 | 6–5 OT | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 17–13–4 |
| 35 | L | December 26, 1976 | 2–6 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 17–14–4 |
| 36 | W | December 28, 1976 | 6–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 18–14–4 |
| 37 | L | January 2, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 18–15–4 |
| 38 | W | January 4, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 19–15–4 |
| 39 | W | January 5, 1977 | 4–3 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 20–15–4 |
| 40 | T | January 7, 1977 | 1–1 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 20–15–5 |
| 41 | L | January 12, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 20–16–5 |
| 42 | W | January 14, 1977 | 5–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 21–16–5 |
| 43 | W | January 16, 1977 | 3–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 22–16–5 |
| 44 | W | January 21, 1977 | 6–1 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 23–16–5 |
| 45 | W | January 22, 1977 | 6–0 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 24–16–5 |
| 46 | W | January 23, 1977 | 5–3 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 25–16–5 |
| 47 | W | January 25, 1977 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 26–16–5 |
| 48 | W | January 28, 1977 | 4–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 27–16–5 |
| 49 | W | January 29, 1977 | 6–4 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 28–16–5 |
| 50 | W | February 1, 1977 | 6–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 29–16–5 |
| 51 | L | February 3, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 29–17–5 |
| 52 | W | February 4, 1977 | 4–1 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 30–17–5 |
| 53 | T | February 8, 1977 | 4–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 30–17–6 |
| 54 | W | February 12, 1977 | 7–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 31–17–6 |
| 55 | W | February 15, 1977 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 32–17–6 |
| 56 | W | February 18, 1977 | 4–2 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 33–17–6 |
| 57 | W | February 19, 1977 | 5–3 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 34–17–6 |
| 58 | L | February 22, 1977 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 34–18–6 |
| 59 | L | February 23, 1977 | 2–3 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 34–19–6 |
| 60 | W | February 25, 1977 | 9–3 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 35–19–6 |
| 61 | W | February 26, 1977 | 5–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 36–19–6 |
| 62 | W | February 27, 1977 | 5–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 37–19–6 |
| 63 | W | March 1, 1977 | 8–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 38–19–6 |
| 64 | L | March 4, 1977 | 2–3 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 38–20–6 |
| 65 | W | March 6, 1977 | 7–3 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 39–20–6 |
| 66 | W | March 8, 1977 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 40–20–6 |
| 67 | W | March 11, 1977 | 5–0 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 41–20–6 |
| 68 | W | March 13, 1977 | 5–0 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 42–20–6 |
| 69 | W | March 15, 1977 | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 43–20–6 |
| 70 | W | March 18, 1977 | 6–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 44–20–6 |
| 71 | W | March 20, 1977 | 8–3 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 45–20–6 |
| 72 | L | March 22, 1977 | 2–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 45–21–6 |
| 73 | W | March 25, 1977 | 4–2 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 46–21–6 |
| 74 | L | March 27, 1977 | 3–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 46–22–6 |
| 75 | W | March 29, 1977 | 5–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 47–22–6 |
| 76 | L | March 30, 1977 | 0–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 47–23–6 |
| 77 | W | April 1, 1977 | 5–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 48–23–6 |
| 78 | L | April 3, 1977 | 3–7 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 48–24–6 |
| 79 | W | April 5, 1977 | 3–1 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 49–24–6 |
| 80 | W | April 6, 1977 | 5–3 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 50–24–6 |

## Playoffs

The Aeros defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Division Semi-final 4–1. In the Division Final, the Aeros were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets 4–2 in a rematch of the 1976 Avco Cup final.

### Houston Aeros 4, Edmonton Oilers 1 – Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 13 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–4 OT | Houston Aeros | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 15 | Edmonton Oilers | 2–6 | Houston Aeros | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 17 | Houston Aeros | 2–7 | Edmonton Oilers | 2–1 |
| 4 | April 20 | Houston Aeros | 4–1 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 22 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–4 | Houston Aeros | 4–1 |

### Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 2 – Division Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 26 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–3 OT | Houston Aeros | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 28 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–7 | Houston Aeros | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 30 | Houston Aeros | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–2 |
| 4 | May 1 | Houston Aeros | 4–6 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–3 |
| 5 | May 3 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–3 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 |
| 6 | May 5 | Houston Aeros | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 80 | 24 | 60 | 84 | 146 | 31 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Rich Preston | RW | 80 | 38 | 41 | 79 | 54 | 37 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Mark Howe | D | 57 | 23 | 52 | 75 | 46 | 41 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Gordie Howe | RW | 62 | 24 | 44 | 68 | 57 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 80 | 12 | 56 | 68 | 87 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Connor | RW | 76 | 35 | 32 | 67 | 224 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Larry Lund | C | 80 | 29 | 38 | 67 | 36 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 11 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 80 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 109 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 78 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 90 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 68 | 27 | 18 | 45 | 67 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Marty Howe | D | 80 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 103 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gray | RW | 47 | 21 | 20 | 41 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Al McLeod | D | 51 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Larway | RW | 75 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 112 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Hale | D | 67 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 2 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Hansis | RW | 22 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Irwin | D | 44 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 168 | −12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 20 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Hinse | LW | 26 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwayne Pentland | D | 29 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 42 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Donaldson | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Fedorko | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Grahame | G | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve West | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ron Grahame | 2345 | 39 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 107 | 2.74 | 4 |
| Wayne Rutledge | 2512 | 42 | 23 | 14 | 4 | 132 | 3.15 | 3 |
| Team: | 4857 | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 239 | 2.95 | 7 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 11 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Howe | D | 11 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 11 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Lund | C | 11 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gordie Howe | RW | 11 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Taylor | LW | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rich Preston | RW | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Connor | RW | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Tonelli | LW | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marty Howe | D | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Al McLeod | D | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Schella | D | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Hansis | RW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Hale | D | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Larway | RW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Grahame | G | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gray | RW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwayne Pentland | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve West | C | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Rutledge | 120 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2.00 | 0 |
| Ron Grahame | 561 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 3.85 | 0 |
| Team: | 681 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 40 | 3.52 | 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 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 22 | Morris Lukowich (LW) | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 3 | 34 | Jim Roberts (LW) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 4 | 46 | Mike Fedorko (D) | Canada | Hamilton Fincups (OHA) |
| 5 | 58 | Larry Skinner (C) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 6 | 70 | Kevin Schamehorn (RW) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 7 | 82 | Mike Hordy (D) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 8 | 93 | Larry Riggin (D) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 9 | 104 | Bill Wells (LW) | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 116 | Bob Pazzelli (F) | United States | University of Denver (WCHA) |