| Houston Aeros | |
 | |
| City: | Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| League: | American Hockey League |
| Conference: | Western Conference |
| Division: | West Division |
| Founded: | 1994 (in the International Hockey League (1945–2001) |
| Home Arena: | Toyota Center |
| Colors: | Forest green, iron range red, wheat |
| Owner(s): | Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (majority), Chuck Watson (minority), Leslie Alexander (minority) |
| General Manager: | Jim Mill |
| Head Coach: | John Torchetti |
| Media: | Houston Chronicle KNTH (News Talk 1070 AM) |
| Affiliates: | Minnesota Wild (NHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1994–2001 (IHL): | Houston Aeros |
| 2001–present (American Hockey League: | Houston Aeros |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | 1 IHL (1998–99) 0 AHL |
| Division Championships: | 1 IHL (1998–99) 1 AHL (2002–03) |
| Conference Championships: | 3 (1998–99) (2002–03) (2010–11) |
| Turner Cups: | 1 (1998–99) |
| Calder Cups: | 1 (2002–03) |
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center.
Official Houston Aeros Website: http://www.aeros.com/
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 along with Houston Native, Nick Sheppard, holding a 4% share.
Season-by-Season Results[]
- International Hockey League (1994–2001)
- American Hockey League (2001–present)
Regular Season[]
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals For |
Goals Against |
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 |
| 2010–11 | 80 | 46 | 28 | — | 1 | 5 | 96 | 238 | 211 | 2nd, West |
| 2011–12 | 76 | 35 | 25 | — | 5 | 11 | 86 | 202 | 206 | 4th, West |
Playoffs[]
| Season | Prelim | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | — | L, 1–3, PHX | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | 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. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| 2010–11 | — | W, 4-0, PEO | W, 4-3, MIL | W, 4–3, HAM | L 2-4, BIN |
| 2011–12 | — | L, 1–3, OKC | — | — | — |