1974–75 Houston Aeros season

The 1974–75 Houston Aeros season was the 3rd season of the Aeros franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Aeros finished 1st in the Western Division and defeated the Quebec Nordiques 4 games to 0 to win their 2nd Avco World Trophy WHA championship.
==Off-season==
The Aeros jerseys were the same design as in the 1973-74 season.
==Pre-season==
The Aeros played the first WHA-NHL exhibition game, defeating the St. Louis Blues 5-3 on September 26, 1974.
==Regular Season==
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 16, 1974 	6–0 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	1–0–0
2 	L 	October 18, 1974 	4–6 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	1–1–0
3 	L 	October 19, 1974 	2–6 	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	1–2–0
4 	L 	October 22, 1974 	2–7 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	1–3–0
5 	L 	October 23, 1974 	4–5 	@ New England Whalers (1974–75) 	1–4–0
6 	W 	October 26, 1974 	3–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	2–4–0
7 	W 	October 29, 1974 	4–2 	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	3–4–0
8 	W 	October 30, 1974 	1–0 	Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	4–4–0
9 	W 	November 2, 1974 	8–2 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	5–4–0
10 	W 	November 5, 1974 	9–3 	San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	6–4–0
11 	L 	November 9, 1974 	4–5 OT 	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	6–5–0
12 	W 	November 12, 1974 	6–1 	New England Whalers (1974–75) 	7–5–0
13 	W 	November 13, 1974 	8–5 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	8–5–0
14 	W 	November 16, 1974 	6–2 	Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	9–5–0
15 	L 	November 17, 1974 	3–4 	San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	9–6–0
16 	W 	November 19, 1974 	10–0 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	10–6–0
17 	W 	November 22, 1974 	4–1 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	11–6–0
18 	W 	November 23, 1974 	4–2 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	12–6–0
19 	W 	November 24, 1974 	4–3 OT 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	13–6–0
20 	L 	November 26, 1974 	4–6 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	13–7–0
21 	W 	November 28, 1974 	2–0 	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	14–7–0
22 	L 	November 30, 1974 	4–5 	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	14–8–0
23 	W 	December 1, 1974 	7–3 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	15–8–0
24 	W 	December 3, 1974 	5–4 	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	16–8–0
25 	W 	December 4, 1974 	3–2 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	17–8–0
26 	L 	December 8, 1974 	1–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	17–9–0
27 	W 	December 11, 1974 	5–2 	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	18–9–0
28 	W 	December 14, 1974 	5–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	19–9–0
29 	L 	December 15, 1974 	3–4 	San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	19–10–0
30 	W 	December 17, 1974 	7–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	20–10–0
31 	L 	December 19, 1974 	1–3 	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	20–11–0
32 	W 	December 21, 1974 	5–3 	@ New England Whalers (1974–75) 	21–11–0
33 	W 	December 22, 1974 	3–0 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	22–11–0
34 	W 	December 28, 1974 	6–1 	New England Whalers (1974–75) 	23–11–0
35 	W 	December 29, 1974 	6–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	24–11–0
36 	W 	January 2, 1975 	6–3 	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) 	25–11–0
37 	W 	January 4, 1975 	5–2 	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) 	26–11–0
38 	W 	January 11, 1975 	6–4 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	27–11–0
39 	L 	January 12, 1975 	4–7 	Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	27–12–0
40 	W 	January 15, 1975 	9–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	28–12–0
41 	L 	January 18, 1975 	4–5 OT 	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	28–13–0
42 	L 	January 24, 1975 	5–7 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	28–14–0
43 	W 	January 26, 1975 	3–1 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	29–14–0
44 	L 	January 28, 1975 	5–7 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	29–15–0
45 	L 	January 31, 1975 	1–4 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	29–16–0
46 	W 	February 1, 1975 	6–5 	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	30–16–0
47 	W 	February 2, 1975 	5–2 	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	31–16–0
48 	W 	February 4, 1975 	4–3 OT 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	32–16–0
49 	W 	February 5, 1975 	5–2 	Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	33–16–0
50 	L 	February 6, 1975 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	33–17–0
51 	L 	February 8, 1975 	4–6 	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) 	33–18–0
52 	W 	February 9, 1975 	4–1 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	34–18–0
53 	W 	February 11, 1975 	5–2 	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	35–18–0
54 	W 	February 12, 1975 	3–1 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	36–18–0
55 	L 	February 14, 1975 	3–5 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	36–19–0
56 	W 	February 17, 1975 	5–3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	37–19–0
57 	W 	February 19, 1975 	10–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	38–19–0
58 	L 	February 22, 1975 	2–4 	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	38–20–0
59 	W 	February 23, 1975 	5–1 	Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	39–20–0
60 	W 	February 26, 1975 	9–5 	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	40–20–0
61 	W 	February 27, 1975 	7–2 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	41–20–0
62 	W 	March 1, 1975 	4–2 	Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	42–20–0
63 	W 	March 2, 1975 	4–3 OT 	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	43–20–0
64 	L 	March 6, 1975 	4–7 	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	43–21–0
65 	L 	March 8, 1975 	4–5 	New England Whalers (1974–75) 	43–22–0
66 	W 	March 14, 1975 	5–4 	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	44–22–0
67 	W 	March 16, 1975 	2–1 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	45–22–0
68 	L 	March 17, 1975 	4–5 	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	45–23–0
69 	W 	March 19, 1975 	6–5 	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	46–23–0
70 	W 	March 20, 1975 	5–3 	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	47–23–0
71 	W 	March 22, 1975 	5–3 	@ New England Whalers (1974–75) 	48–23–0
72 	L 	March 26, 1975 	1–2 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	48–24–0
73 	W 	March 27, 1975 	8–0 	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	49–24–0
74 	W 	March 29, 1975 	8–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	50–24–0
75 	W 	April 2, 1975 	7–6 	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	51–24–0
76 	W 	April 5, 1975 	8–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	52–24–0
77 	W 	April 6, 1975 	5–2 	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	53–24–0
78 	L 	April 7, 1975 	2–4 	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	53–25–0
==Playoffs==
===Houston Aeros 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 10	Cleveland Crusaders	5–8 	Houston Aeros 	1–0
2	April 12	Cleveland Crusaders	3–5 	Houston Aeros 	2–0
3	April 13	Houston Aeros 	1–3 	Cleveland Crusaders	2–1
4	April 15	Houston Aeros 	7–2 	Cleveland Crusaders	3–1
5	April 17	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3 	Houston Aeros 	4–1
===Houston Aeros 4, San Diego Mariners 0===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 25	Houston Aeros 	4–0 	San Diego Mariners	1–0
2	April 27	Houston Aeros 	2–1 	San Diego Mariners	2–0
3	April 29	San Diego Mariners	0–6 	Houston Aeros 	3–0
4	May 1 	San Diego Mariners	4–5 OT	Houston Aeros 	4–0
===Houston Aeros 4, Quebec Nordiques 0===
The Aeros swept the Quebec Nordiques in the Avco World Trophy Finals. Gordie Howe led the series in scoring with 5 goals and 8 points. Aeros goalie Ron Grahame was named the WHA Playoff MVP.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 3 	Quebec Nordiques	2–6 	Houston Aeros 	1–0
2	May 6 	Quebec Nordiques	3–5 	Houston Aeros 	2–0
3	May 10	Houston Aeros 	2–0 	Quebec Nordiques	3–0
4	May 12	Houston Aeros 	7–2 	Quebec Nordiques	4–0
==Player Stats==
Regular Season	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
# 	Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
13 	 	C 	78	33	75	108	68 	28 	13 	0 	0
9 	 	RW 	75	34	65	99 	84 	40 	8 	3 	0
16 	 	LW 	75	39	47	86 	12 	34 	13 	0 	0
7 	 	LW 	76	48	35	83 	35 	32 	15 	0 	0
4 	 	D 	74	36	40	76 	30 	40 	7 	4 	0
6 	 	D 	78	11	53	64 	123	41 	4 	2 	0
10 	 	C 	76	23	34	57 	40 	5 	4 	0 	0
14 	 	LW 	73	26	27	53 	130	7 	2 	3 	0
2 	 	D 	78	10	42	52 	176	43 	0 	0 	0
23 	 	C 	77	22	25	47 	25 	36 	1 	0 	0
11 	 	RW 	78	18	29	47 	28 	2 	0 	5 	0
8 	 	C 	71	10	36	46 	134	30 	3 	0 	0
21 	 	RW 	78	20	21	41 	10 	25 	1 	0 	0
27 	 	RW 	76	22	14	36 	59 	26 	0 	0 	0
3 	 	D 	75	13	21	34 	89 	46 	0 	1 	0
17 	 	D 	76	2 	18	20 	40 	35 	0 	0 	0
24 	 	D 	70	2 	11	13 	153	38 	0 	0 	0
22 	 	D 	17	0 	3 	3 	19 	3 	0 	0 	0
29 	 	G 	43	0 	1 	1 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
30 	 	G 	35	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	D 	13	10	12	22 	0 	0 	0 	3
 	RW 	13	8 	12	20 	20 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	13	5 	13	18 	13 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	13	6 	7 	13 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	13	6 	6 	12 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	13	1 	10	11 	34 	0 	0 	1
 	RW 	13	7 	3 	10 	8 	0 	0 	2
 	LW 	11	5 	4 	9 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	8 	8 	12 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	11	2 	5 	7 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	13	1 	6 	7 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	13	4 	2 	6 	15 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	13	3 	3 	6 	6 	0 	0 	2
 	RW 	13	3 	1 	4 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	4 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	0 	2 	2 	11 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	2 	2 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	13	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	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 
==Awards and Records==
*Avco World Trophy: Houston Aeros
*Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender): Ron Grahame
*WHA Playoff MVP: Ron Grahame
*Gordie Howe, Right Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
*Ron Grahame, Goalie, WHA First Team All-Star
*Poul Popiel, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Gallery==
1974-Dec2-Dillon-Hinse-Lund-Gratton.jpg|Larry Lund scores on Gilles Gratton as Wayne Dillon and Andre Hinse look on, December 2, 1974.
74-75WHAExhWindsorGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Windsor
1975-Jan15-Civics-Aeros lineups-last game.jpg|Line-up from the Civics last game, January 15, 1975.
==See Also==
*1974–75 WHA season
==References==
Houston Aeros season, 1974–75
Houston Aeros season, 1974–75
category:Houston Aeros seasons