1976-77 • Franchise

1976-77 Houston Aeros

Record: 50-24-6, 106 pts
Finish: 1st, West
Playoffs: Lost in second round to Winnipeg
<Coach: Bill Dineen

Aeros Preview, 1976-77 • by Barry Wilner • The Hockey News 1977 Yearbook If Hull decides to forego the ice wars, Houston will challenge for the top spot. With Gordie Howe in uniform that is. If both Howe and Hull retire, the battle of the West will be wide open with Calgary and Phoenix having a chance. Howe managed 102 points in his 47th year, placing him tenth among league scorers and first in the hearts of geriatrics everywhere. With youngsters Don Larway, Rich Preston and Mark and Marty Howe around, the Aeros are a threat for the top spot in the West. Larry Lund, Andre Hinse and Frank Hughes form the Go-Go Line with Preston, and Terry Ruskowski joining Mark and Gordie on Houston's number-one line. Marty Howe and Hughes had 76 points with Lund and Hinse getting 73 each. The goaltending unit is solid with Ron Grahame and Wayne Rutledge. The defense, basically made-up of journeyman, is solid. The names on the back line are Marty Howe, John Schella, Larry Hale and Poul Popiel. This group allowed 263 goals against, third lowest in the WHA. Aeros original Gord Labossiere was lost in the intra-league draft to Quebec, but he should not be missed. "I hated to lose him," admitted Houston coach and general manager Bill Dineen. "He has been with the team since the start and has done so much to contribute to our success. I hated to leave him unprotected but we had to go with Larway and Preston. And one old player. Although he had himself placed on the league's voluntary retirement list, Aeros president Howe doesn't expect to man a desk chair all season. Instead, he'll look to take up a spot on the Houston ice. "I think I had a pretty good year, and now I have to decide whether I can be of more help in the front office or on the ice," says Howe. "Right now, there are still factors to be considered. I want to be absolutely certain before I make any announcements." Until he has actually sat out a large number of games, nobody will believe the great Gordie has retired. Colleen Howe, the brains of the Howe menage, has fallen out with the Houston top brass. This may affect the role Gordie would play as president and make him an attractive player once more. It's what he knows best; if Howe quits, attendance will dip.

Game Log ... (@ away game, * overtime)

no.	Date	Opponent	Score		w-l-t	pts	gf-ga	no.	Date	Opponent	Score		w-l-t	pts	gf-ga
1.	Oct 8	@ Birmingham	2-4	L	0-1-0	0	2-4	41.	Jan 12	@ Phoenix	2-4	L	20-16-5	45	140-129
2.	Oct 9	Phoenix	5-3	W	1-1-0	2	7-7	42.	Jan 14	Birmingham	5-3	W	21-16-5	47	145-132
3.	Oct 13	Calgary	2-1	W	2-1-0	4	9-8	43.	Jan 16	Edmonton	3-1	W	22-16-5	49	148-133
4.	Oct 16	Birmingham	3-0	W	3-1-0	6	12-8	44.	Jan 21	Birmingham	6-1	W	23-16-5	51	154-134
5.	Oct 19	New England	4-4	T	3-1-1	7	16-12	45.	Jan 22	@ San Diego	6-0	W	24-16-5	53	160-134
6.	Oct 21	@ Birmingham	5-8	L	3-2-1	7	21-20	46.	Jan 23	San Diego	5-3	W	25-16-5	55	165-137
7.	Oct 22	@ New England	2-5	L	3-3-1	7	23-25	47.	Jan 25	Winnipeg	5-2	W	26-16-5	57	170-139
8.	Oct 23	@ Quebec	2-6	L	3-4-1	7	25-31	48.	Jan 28	@ Edmonton	4-1	W	27-16-5	59	174-140
9.	Oct 26	Edmonton	3-1	W	4-4-1	9	28-32	49.	Jan 29	@ Calgary	6-4	W	28-16-5	61	180-144
10.	Oct 28	Minnesota	1-1	T	4-4-2	10	29-33	50.	Feb 1	Calgary	6-1	W	29-16-5	63	186-145
11.	Oct 30	@ Calgary	4-6	L	4-5-2	10	33-39	51.	Feb 3	@ Phoenix	3-5	L	29-17-5	63	189-150
12.	Oct 31	@ Edmonton	4-0	W	5-5-2	12	37-39	52.	Feb 4	New England	4-1	W	30-17-5	65	193-151
13.	Nov 2	@ Winnipeg	3-1	W	6-5-2	14	40-40	53.	Feb 8	@ Indianapolis	4-4	T	30-17-6	66	197-155
14.	Nov 5	Phoenix	9-1	W	7-5-2	16	49-41	54.	Feb 12	Quebec	7-3	W	31-17-6	68	204-158
15.	Nov 6	@ San Diego	1-4	L	7-6-2	16	50-45	55.	Feb 15	Quebec	4-2	W	32-17-6	70	208-160
16.	Nov 9	Indianapolis	7-2	W	8-6-2	18	57-47	56.	Feb 18	San Diego	4-2	W	33-17-6	72	212-162
17.	Nov 12	San Diego	4-1	W	9-6-2	20	61-48	57.	Feb 19	San Diego	5-3	W	34-17-6	74	217-165
18.	Nov 16	Calgary	4-2	W	10-6-2	22	65-50	58.	Feb 22	@ Winnipeg	2-3	L	34-18-6	74	219-168
19.	Nov 19	@ San Diego	3-5	L	10-7-2	22	68-55	59.	Feb 23	@ Calgary	2-3	L	34-19-6	74	221-171
20.	Nov 20	@ Phoenix	5-2	W	11-7-2	24	73-57	60.	Feb 25	@ Phoenix	9-3	W	35-19-6	76	230-174
21.	Nov 23	Edmonton	5-3	W	12-7-2	26	78-60	61.	Feb 26	@ San Diego	5-4	W	36-19-6	78	235-178
22.	Nov 26	Winnipeg	1-1	T	12-7-3	27	79-61	62.	Feb 27	@ Phoenix	5-4	W	37-19-6	80	240-182
23.	Dec 3	Edmonton	0-0	T	12-7-4	28	79-61	63.	Mar 1	Phoenix	8-3	W	38-19-6	82	248-185
24.	Dec 5	@ Cincinnati	2-7	L	12-8-4	28	81-68	64.	Mar 4	@ New England	2-3	L	38-20-6	82	250-188
25.	Dec 8	@ New England	1-5	L	12-9-4	28	82-73	65.	Mar 6	@ Cincinnati	7-3	W	39-20-6	84	257-191
26.	Dec 10	@ Cincinnati	2-6	L	12-10-4	28	84-79	66.	Mar 8	Edmonton	5-3	W	40-20-6	86	262-194
27.	Dec 11	@ Quebec	1-4	L	12-11-4	28	85-83	67.	Mar 11	Cincinnati	5-0	W	41-20-6	88	267-194
28.	Dec 12	@ Indianapolis	3-1	W	13-11-4	30	88-84	68.	Mar 13	Indianapolis	5-0	W	42-20-6	90	272-194
29.	Dec 14	Phoenix	8-3	W	14-11-4	32	96-87	69.	Mar 15	Quebec	4-3	W	43-20-6	92	276-197
30.	Dec 17	Birmingham	3-4	L	14-12-4	32	99-91	70.	Mar 18	Phoenix	6-3	W	44-20-6	94	282-200
31.	Dec 18	@ San Diego	3-4	L	14-13-4	32	102-95	71.	Mar 20	@ Indianapolis	8-3	W	45-20-6	96	290-203
32.	Dec 19	@ Phoenix	6-4	W	15-13-4	34	108-99	72.	Mar 22	@ Quebec	2-6	L	45-21-6	96	292-209
33.	Dec 21	New England	4-0	W	16-13-4	36	112-99	73.	Mar 25	Calgary	4-2	W	46-21-6	98	296-211
34.	Dec 23	Cincinnati	*6-5	W	17-13-4	38	118-104	74.	Mar 27	Winnipeg	3-5	L	46-22-6	98	299-216
35.	Dec 26	@ Birmingham	2-6	L	17-14-4	38	120-110	75.	Mar 29	@ Winnipeg	5-2	W	47-22-6	100	304-218
36.	Dec 28	Winnipeg	6-3	W	18-14-4	40	126-113	76.	Mar 30	@ Edmonton	0-8	L	47-23-6	100	304-226
37.	Jan 2	@ Winnipeg	2-5	L	18-15-4	40	128-118	77.	Apr 1	Cincinnati	5-4	W	48-23-6	102	309-230
38.	Jan 4	@ Edmonton	5-3	W	19-15-4	42	133-121	78.	Apr 3	Indianapolis	3-7	L	48-24-6	102	312-237
39.	Jan 5	@ Calgary	4-3	W	20-15-4	44	137-124	79.	Apr 5	San Diego	3-1	W	49-24-6	104	315-238
40.	Jan 7	@ Minnesota	1-1	T	20-15-5	45	138-125	80.	Apr 6	@ San Diego	5-3	W	50-24-6	106	320-241

Player Scoring

pos.	#	Player	gp	g	a	pts	pim	+/-	ppg	shg	sog	sc%	gp	g	a	pts	pim
RW	15	Connor, Cam	76	35	32	67	224	+23	6	1	217	0.161	11	3	4	7	47
RW	27	Donaldson, Gary	5	0	0	0	6	-3	0	0	14	0.000	-	-	-	-	-
D	-	Fedorko, Mike	4	0	0	0	0	-4	0	0	4	0.000	-	-	-	-	-
G	29	Grahame, Ron	39	0	1	1	2	-	0	0	0	-	9	0	2	2
LW	10	Gray, John	47	21	20	41	25	+22	3	0	120	0.175	6	0	1	1	8
D	17	Hale, Larry	67	0	14	14	18	+9	0	0	45	0.000	11	0	2	2	6
RW	26	Hansis, Ron	22	4	3	7	6	-4	0	0	24	0.167	8	1	1	2	4
LW	16	Hinse, Andre	26	2	3	5	8	-9	0	0	33	0.061	-	-	-	-	-
RW	9	Howe, Gordie	62	24	44	68	57	+27	5	1	162	0.148	11	5	3	8	11
D/F	4	Howe, Mark	57	23	52	75	46	+41	5	3	220	0.105	11	4	10	14	2
D	3	Howe, Marty	80	17	28	45	103	+29	3	0	226	0.075	11	3	1	4	10
LW	7	Hughes, Frank	27	3	8	11	2	-5	0	0	40	0.075	-	-	-	-	-
D	24	Irwin, Glen	44	2	4	6	168	-12	0	0	38	0.053	-	-	-	-	-
RW	27	Larway, Don	75	11	13	24	112	+5	3	0	152	0.072	3	1	0	1	0
LW	12	Lukowich, Morris	68	27	18	45	67	+20	6	0	119	0.227	11	6	4	10	19
C	13	Lund, Larry	80	29	38	67	36	+20	7	0	109	0.266	11	2	8	10	17
D	5	McLeod, Al	51	7	21	28	20	+19	1	0	69	0.101	10	1	3	4	9
D	19	Pentland, Dwayne	29	1	2	3	6	+3	0	0	13	0.077	2	0	0	0	0
D	6	Popiel, Poul	80	12	56	68	87	+53	2	0	177	0.068	11	0	7	7	10
RW	21	Preston, Rich	80	38	41	79	54	+37	6	5	216	0.176	11	3	5	8	10
C	8	Ruskowski, Terry	80	24	60	84	143	+31	7	0	162	0.148	11	6	11	17	67
G	30	Rutledge, Wayne	42	0	3	3	63	-	0	0	0	-	2	0	0	0
D	2	Schella, John	20	0	6	6	28	+8	0	0	30	0.000	6	1	2	3	6
LW	14	Taylor, Ted	78	16	35	51	90	+28	4	0	145	0.110	11	4	4	8	28
LW	18	Tonelli, John	80	24	31	55	109	+14	6	1	179	0.134	11	3	4	7	12
C	19	West, Steve	3	0	0	0	2	-3	0	0	3	0.000	6	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Goaltender	gp	min	ga	en	so	w-l-t	gaa	sog	sv%	gp	min	ga	w-l	gaa
Grahame, Ron	39	2345	107	1	4	27-10-2	2.74	1081	0.901	9	561	36	4-5	3.85
Rutledge, Wayne	42	2512	132	1	3	23-14-4	3.15	1294	0.898	2	120	4	2-0	2.00

Transactions

• Bob Liddington to Phoenix for Cam Connor, Oct 1976
• Andre Hinse and Frank Hughes to Phoenix for Al McLeod and John Gray, Dec 1976

Splits versus opposing teams, home and away, and by month

opponent	overall	gf-ga	home	gf-ga	away	gf-ga
Birmingham	3-4-0	26-26	3-1-0	17-8	0-3-0	9-18
Calgary	6-2-0	32-22	4-0-0	16-6	2-2-0	16-16
Cincinnati	4-2-0	27-25	3-0-0	16-9	1-2-0	11-16
Edmonton	7-1-1	29-20	4-0-1	16-8	3-1-0	13-12
Indianapolis	4-1-1	30-17	2-1-0	15-9	2-0-1	15-8
Minnesota	0-0-2	2-2	0-0-1	1-1	0-0-1	1-1
New England	2-3-1	17-18	2-0-1	12-5	0-3-0	5-13
Phoenix	9-2-0	66-35	5-0-0	36-13	4-2-0	30-22
Quebec	3-3-0	20-24	3-0-0	15-8	0-3-0	5-16
San Diego	8-3-0	44-30	5-0-0	21-10	3-3-0	23-20
Winnipeg	4-3-1	27-22	2-1-1	15-11	2-2-0	12-11
October	5-5-2	37-39	4-0-2	18-10	1-5-0	19-29
November	7-2-1	42-22	5-0-1	30-10	2-2-0	12-12
December	6-7-1	47-52	4-1-1	27-15	2-6-0	20-37
January	10-2-1	54-31	5-0-0	24-10	5-2-1	30-21
February	9-3-1	60-38	6-0-0	30-12	3-3-1	30-26
March	10-4-0	64-44	7-1-0	40-19	3-3-0	24-25
April	3-1-0	16-15	2-1-0	11-12	1-0-0	5-3

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