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Houston Aeros (1994–2013)

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For the World Hockey Association team, see Houston Aeros (WHA).
Houston Aeros
CityDes Moines, Iowa (Current) Houston, Texas (Former 1994-2013)
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
Operated1994 - 2013
Home arenaToyota Center (Former) Wells Fargo Arena home
ColorsGreen, Red, Wheat, White        
Owner(s)Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (majority), Chuck Watson (minority), Nick Sheppard (minority)
AffiliatesMinnesota Wild (NHL)
2001-2013
Franchise history
1994–2001 (IHL)Houston Aeros
2001–2013 (AHL)Houston Aeros
2013-presentIowa Wild
Championships
Regular season titles1 IHL (1998–99)
0 AHL
Division titles1 IHL (1998–99)
1 AHL (2002–03)
Conference titles3 (1998–99) (2002–03) (2010–11)
Turner Cups1 (1998–99)
Calder Cups1 (2002–03)

The Houston Aeros (Now Iowa Wild) were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team played in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They were the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.

History

The Houston Aeros were an expansion team in the International Hockey League in 1994. The team's name is an 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) based on the Douglas B-23 Dragon bomber. 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 American Hockey League (AHL) in 2001 when the IHL folded. The AHL version of the Aeros would go on to win the 2003 Calder Cup; they would reach the 2011 Calder Cup finals as well, but lost to the Binghamton Senators. Longtime AHL affiliates of the Minnesota Wild, they were also affiliated with the ECHL revival of the Orlando Solar Bears for the 2012–13 season.

The team played their home games in the Toyota Center, after moving 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. This new logo was not popular with many of the long-term fans. 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 was Minnesota Sports and Entertainment, with Chuck Watson, the former owner, owning a 10% minority share along with Houston native Nick Sheppard, who held a 4% share.

On April 18, 2013, the Minnesota Wild's ownership group Minnesota Sports and Entertainment were unable to reach a lease agreement with the Toyota Center, and announced the Aeros would be relocated to Des Moines, Iowa beginning with the 2013–14 season. After the move the team was renamed to Iowa Wild and currently reside in Des Moines, Iowa. [1]

Season-by-season results

Regular Season Playoffs
Season Games Won Lost Ties OTL SOL Points PCT Goals
for 		Goals
against 		Standing Year Prelims 1st
round 		2nd
round 		3rd
round 		Finals
1994–95 81 38 35 — 8 — 84 .519 272 283 2nd, Central 1995 — L, 1–3, PHX — — —
1995–96 82 29 45 — 8 — 66 .402 262 328 5th, Central 1996 Out of playoffs
1996–97 82 44 30 — 8 — 96 .585 247 228 2nd, Southwest 1997 — W, 3–0, LV W, 4–1, SA L, 1–4, LB —
1997–98 82 50 22 — 10 — 110 .671 268 214 2nd, Southwest 1998 — L, 1–3, MIL — — —
1998–99 82 54 15 — 13 — 121 .738 307 209 1st, Southwest 1999 — W, 3–2, LB W, 4–3, CHI — W, 4–3, ORL
1999–00 82 44 29 — 9 — 97 .591 219 197 3rd, Western 2000 — W, 4–1, UTA L, 2–4, CHI — —
2000–01 82 42 32 — 8 — 92 .561 229 245 2nd, Western 2001 — L, 3–4, MTB — — —
2001–02 80 39 26 10 5 — 93 .581 234 232 2nd, West 2002 — W, 3–2, UTA W, 4–0, HER L, 1–4, CHI —
2002–03 80 47 23 7 3 — 104 .650 266 222 1st, West 2003 — W, 3–0, MIL W, 4–2, NOR W, 4–3, GR W, 4–3, HAM
2003–04 80 28 34 14 4 — 74 .463 197 220 4th, West 2004 L, 0–2, CIN — — — —
2004–05 80 40 28 — 6 6 92 .575 212 195 4th, West 2005 — L, 1–4, CHI — — —
2005–06 80 50 24 — 3 3 106 .663 285 242 2nd, West 2006 — W, 4–0, PEO L, 0–4, MIL — —
2006–07 80 27 43 — 4 6 64 .400 205 269 7th, West 2007 Out of playoffs
2007–08 80 45 29 — 2 4 96 .600 206 183 3rd, West 2008 — L, 1–4, RCK — — —
2008–09 80 38 31 — 2 9 87 .544 218 230 3rd, West 2009 — W, 4-3, PEO W, 4-3, MIL L, 4-2, MTB —
2009–10 80 34 34 — 7 5 80 .500 206 224 7th, West 2010 Out of playoffs
2010–11 80 46 28 — 1 5 96 .613 238 211 2nd, West 2011 — W, 4-0, PEO W, 4-3, MIL W, 4–3, HAM L 2-4, BNG
2011–12 76 35 41 — 5 11 86 .566 202 206 4th, Midwest 2012 — L, 1–3, OKC — — —
2012–13 76 40 36 — 5 5 90 .592 212 199 4th, South 2013 — L, 2-3, GR — — —

Players

Team Captains

Retired numbers

9 Gordie Howe (1973–77 with the WHA team)

Franchise records

Single season
Goals: Patrick O'Sullivan, 47 (2005–06)
Assists: Brian Wiseman, 88 (1998–99)
Points: Kirby Law, 110 (2005–06)
Penalty minutes: Gord Donnelly, 333 (1995–96)
GAA: Josh Harding, 2.01 (2004–05)
SV%: Josh Harding, .930 (2004–05)
Career
Career goals: Mark Freer, 132
Career assists: Mark Freer, 210
Career points: Mark Freer, 342
Career penalty minutes: Erik Reitz, 721
Career goaltending wins: Frederic Chabot, 126
Career shutouts: Frederic Chabot, 18
Career games: Mark Freer, 469

References

  1. ^ "Wild statement on AHL affiliate". Houston Aeros. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2013-04-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help),
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