Houston Aeros (1994–2013)

Houston Aeros

City	Des Moines, Iowa (Current) Houston, Texas (Former 1994–2013)
League	American Hockey League
Operated	1994–2013
Home arena	Toyota Center (Former)
Colors	Green, Red, Wheat, White
Owner(s)	Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (majority), Chuck Watson (minority), Nick Sheppard (minority)
Affiliates	Minnesota Wild (2001–2013)
Franchise history
1994–2013	Houston Aeros
2013–present	Iowa Wild
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 (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

International Hockey League (1994–2001)
American Hockey League (2001–2013)

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

Kirby Law, 2005–2006
No Captain 2006–07
Erik Reitz, 2007–2008
Corey Locke, 2008–2009
Brandon Rogers, 2009–2010
Jon DiSalvatore, 2010–2012
Drew Bagnall, 2012–2013

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

↑ "Wild statement on AHL affiliate". Houston Aeros. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2013-04-18. ,

External links

Houston Aeros
Founded in 1994 Based in Houston, Texas Relocated to Des Moines, Iowa as the Iowa Wild
The Franchise	History Records Players Iowa Wild All articles
Arenas	Compaq Center Toyota Center
Coaches	John Torchetti
Turner Cup	1999
Calder Cup	2003
Rivalries	Oklahoma City Barons San Antonio Rampage Texas Stars
Former Affiliates	Minnesota Wild (NHL) Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)
Past Franchises	WHA team

Minnesota Wild
Founded in 2000 Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Franchise	Team General managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks (Expansion draft) Seasons Current season
History	Records Award winners Retired numbers
Personnel	Owners Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (Craig Leipold, chairman) General manager Chuck Fletcher Head coach Bruce Boudreau Team captain Mikko Koivu Current roster
Arena	Xcel Energy Center
Affiliates	AHL Iowa Wild ECHL Rapid City Rush
Media	FS Wild KFAN (100.3 FM)
Culture and lore	Nordy

Defunct American Hockey League teams

International Hockey League (1945–2001)

Teams

Trophies and
awards

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