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1972–73 Houston Aeros season

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1972–73 Houston Aeros
Division2nd Western
1972–73 record39–35–4
Home record24–16–1
Road record15–19–3
Goals for284
Goals against269
Team information
General managerJames S. Smith
CoachBill Dineen
CaptainTed Taylor
Alternate captainsPoul Popiel
Gord Labossiere
Keke Mortson (unconfirmed)
ArenaSam Houston Coliseum
Average attendance4,616 (49.6%)
Team leaders
GoalsGord Labossiere (36)
AssistsGord Labossiere (60)
PointsGord Labossiere (96)
Penalty minutesJohn Schella (239)
WinsWayne Rutledge (21)
Goals against averageWayne Rutledge (2.96)

The 1972–73 Houston Aeros season was the Houston Aeros first season of operation in the newly created World Hockey Association (WHA).[1][2]

Offseason

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Regular season

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Final standings

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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


Schedule and results

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1972–73 regular season[3]
October
Game Result 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
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
78 W April 1, 1973 6–3 @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 39–35–4

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

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1973 Avco Cup playoffs[3]
Quarterfinals vs. Los Angeles Sharks – Aeros win 4–2
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
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
Semifinals vs. Winnipeg Jets – Jets win 4–0
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
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

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

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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

[4]

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

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Transactions

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Draft picks

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ World Hockey Association (1972). WHA 1972-73 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. ^ World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  3. ^ a b "1972-73 Houston Aeros Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  4. ^ "1972-73 Houston Aeros Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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