Houston Aeros (AHL)

The Houston Aeros Were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1994-2013. The team played its home games in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center.
== History ==
The Houston Aeros were an expansion team in the International Hockey League in 1994. The team's name is a homage to the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association in the 1970s, one of the teams Gordie Howe played for in the WHA. The Aeros were the second IHL team to be named after a WHA franchise, the first being the Phoenix Roadrunners; unlike the Roadrunners, who used the same logo as their WHA predecessor, the IHL Aeros used a new logo, a bomber flying over the team name (essentially their current logo). The Aeros would defeat the Orlando Solar Bears to win the 1999 Turner Cup, following an impressive 54-win season.
The Aeros were one of six IHL teams to join the AHL in 2001 when the IHL folded. The AHL version of the Aeros would go on to win the 2003 Calder Cup. They are the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.
The team plays their home games in the Toyota Center, which they moved to from the Compaq Center for the 2003–04 season. 
In 2003, the Aeros replaced their original bomber logo, carried over from their IHL days, to a new logo featuring a forward-facing modern fighter jet below a bold "AEROS", and using the WHA Aeros' colors of light and dark blue. In 2005, as part of their affiliation with the Wild, the Aeros changed their colors to the Wild's forest green and Iron Range red. On April 18, 2006, the team announced that the 2006–07 season would see the Aeros return to their original bomber logo associated with their championship seasons, with only minor color alterations; the blue elements of the original logo were replaced with green.
The principal owner is Minnesota Sports and Entertainment, with Chuck Watson, the former owner, now owning a 10% minority share.
after the 2012-2013 playoffs, the aeros moved to Des Moines, Iowa, To become the (Iowa Wild)
==Season-by-season results==
* Houston Aeros 1994–2001 (International Hockey League)
* Houston Aeros 2001–present 
===Regular season===
Season 	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SOL	Points	Goalsfor	Goalsagainst	Standing
1994–95	81 	38 	35 	— 	8 	— 	84 	272 	283 	2nd, Central
1995–96	82 	29 	45 	— 	8 	— 	66 	262 	328 	5th, Central
1996–97	82 	44 	30 	— 	8 	— 	96 	247 	228 	2nd, Southwest
1997–98	82 	50 	22 	— 	10 	— 	110 	268 	214 	2nd, Southwest
1998–99	82 	54 	15 	— 	13 	— 	121 	307 	209 	1st, Southwest
1999–00	82 	44 	29 	— 	9 	— 	97 	219 	197 	3rd, Western
2000–01	82 	42 	32 	— 	8 	— 	92 	229 	245 	2nd, Western
2001–02	80 	39 	26 	10 	5 	— 	93 	234 	232 	2nd, West
2002–03	80 	47 	23 	7 	3 	— 	104 	266 	222 	1st, West
2003–04	80 	28 	34 	14 	4 	— 	74 	197 	220 	4th, West
2004–05	80 	40 	28 	— 	6 	6 	93 	212 	195 	4th, West
2005–06	80 	50 	24 	— 	3 	3 	106 	285 	242 	2nd, West
2006–07	80 	27 	43 	— 	4 	6 	64 	205 	269 	7th, West
2007–08	80 	45 	29 	— 	2 	4 	96 	206 	183 	3rd, West
2008–09	80 	38 	31 	— 	2 	9 	87 	218 	230 	3rd, West
2009–10	80 	34 	34 	— 	7 	5 	80 	206 	224 	7th, West
===Playoffs===
Season 	Prelim 	1st round 	2nd round 	3rd round 	Finals
1994–95	— 	L, 1–3, PHX 	— 	— 	—
1995–96	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.
1996–97	— 	W, 3–0, LV 	W, 4–1, SA 	L, 1–4, LB 	—
1997–98	— 	L, 1–3, MIL 	— 	— 	—
1998–99	— 	W, 3–2, LB 	W, 4–3, CHI 	— 	W, 4–3, ORL
1999–00	— 	W, 4–1, UT 	L, 2–4, CHI 	— 	—
2000–01	— 	L, 3–4, MTB 	— 	— 	—
2001–02	— 	W, 3–2, UT 	W, 4–0, HER 	L, 1–4, CHI 	—
2002–03	— 	W, 3–0, MIL 	W, 4–2, NOR 	W, 4–3, GR 	W, 4–3, HAM
2003–04	L, 0–2, CIN 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05	— 	L, 1–4, CHI 	— 	— 	—
2005–06	— 	W, 4–0, PEO 	L, 0–4, MIL 	— 	—
2006–07	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.
2007–08	— 	L, 1–4, RFD 	— 	— 	—
2008–09	— 	W, 4-3, PEO 	W, 4-3, MIL 	L, 4-2, MTB 	—
2009–10	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.	Out of playoffs.
==Current Roster==
==Franchise records==
;Single season
:Goals: 47 Patrick O'Sullivan (2005–06)
:Assists: 88 Brian Wiseman (1998–99)
:Points: 110 Kirby Law (2005–06)
:Penalty minutes: 333 Gord Donnelly (1995–96)
:GAA: 2.01 Josh Harding (2004–05)
:SV%: .930 Josh Harding (2004–05) 
;Career
:Career goals: 132 Mark Freer
:Career assists: 210 Mark Freer
:Career points: 342 Mark Freer
:Career penalty minutes: 721 Erik Reitz
:Career goaltending wins: 126 Frederic Chabot
:Career shutouts: 18 Frederic Chabot
:Career games: 469 Mark Freer
;Retired numbers
:9 Gordie Howe (1973-77)
==References==
==External links==
* Houston Aeros Official Site
* The Internet Hockey Database - Houston Aeros (AHL)
* The Internet Hockey Database - Houston Aeros (IHL)
Category:Minnesota Wild
Category:Ice hockey teams in Texas
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:American Hockey League team
Category:International Hockey League (1945-2001) team
Category:Established in 1994
Category:American Hockey League teams
Category:International Hockey League (1945-2001) teams