In this special 20th episode and first-ever livestream of Mission Control: Houston's Hockey Podcast, we are joined by WHA champion and broadcasting pioneer Jack Stanfield for a deep dive into Houston’s pro hockey history. Jack shares untold stories from the 1974 Avco Cup run, reveals exactly how close the Aeros came to joining the NHL (and how that deal eventually created the New Jersey Devils), and discusses the "magic" of playing alongside Gordie Howe. We also explore his role in revolutionizing how we watch sports through the creation of regional networks like HSE, and get his expert take on the viability of bringing an NHL expansion team to Houston today.Obligatory merch page link: https://mchockeypodcast.printful.me/"The Rebel League" by Ed Willes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/892319.The_Rebel_LeagueThe Okananagan Hockey Community Foundation: https://okanaganhockeyfoundation.com/about/Jack's episode of the Face-Off Spot Podcast: https://faceoffspotpodcast.com/episodes/episode-183-jack-stanfield/Well, I WOULD tell you to join me at the Rice / UH game, but it's sold out. No, I did not get mine.HPIB Slapshot Scholarship: https://www.ishl.org/news/houston-slapshot-scholarship-2026-score-your-futurHockey Day in Houston Info: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Space City yet - but the fans are.Welcome to Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast — your launchpad for all things hockey in Space City. Whether you’ve been following NHL relocation rumors since 2013 or just discovered the game through the Four Nations Face-Off, this channel is for fans who believe Houston has deserved a team for a long time. We cover Houston’s hockey history, NHL expansion gossip, arena politics, and local events. With throwback stories, awkward edits, and bad attempts at humor, we’re building the fanbase before the 33rd franchise gets here. Subscribe and be part of Houston’s hockey future.

HoustonHockey, WHA, Gordie Howe, Hockey History, Hockey Podcast, Houston Aeros, NHL to Houston

Join us for a chat with Jack Stanfield, 1974 WHA Houston Aeros Avco Cup Champion, team executive, and sports broadcasting guru - and that's only part of an impressive resume. If anyone is qualified to talk about pro hockey in Houston - both its history and its future - it's Jack. I'm really looking forward to this - make sure you join us for the live chat!
https://www.youtube.com/live/4lqZg7qLKXU?si=a97DCQsw5pZFVyHs

Matt takes you on a Christmas hockey road trip in this episode of Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast — but not before covering key local and national headlines. We break down the final three inductees to the 2026 Houston Hockey Hall of Fame, why the $1.7B Penguins sale matters to Houston, and healthy rants about the Team USA Olympic roster snubbing Jason Robertson, Team USA's inability to produce a good-looking jersey, and retro jerseys worn by relocated teams. Why should you listen to Matt ramble about his roadtrip? Because he's making a point about arenas... why else?

00:00 A Sleep-Deprived Introduction featuring the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame

09:24 The Olympic Rosters are Out... dude, wtf?

17:50 Winnipeg's Attendance, the ECHL Strike, and Retro Jerseys

24:24 What I Did on my Winter Vacation

39:22 The Calendar - The Part you Skip to if you Don't Care about the DFW Trip

Want a Sexy T-Shirt, or other merch to-be-added? https://mchockeypodcast.printful.me/

Hockey Day in Houston Info: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/T

he Count Dankula clip is from his episode of Albert Dryden: https://youtu.be/z2MPzVt3Hc8?si=eGojH5d-4W3GTSW6

Hey, they JUST added Channel info on the NBC Broadcast site:https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/hockey

Sportico's Article on the Penguins Sale: https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/pittsburgh-penguins-sold-hoffmann-nhl-fenway-sports-1234868839/

Bettman on Winnipeg's Attendance Issues: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/12/12/bettman-says-winnipeg-jets-improving-attendance-still-needs-work/

Oh, and the "traditional Christmas movies" were Die Hard 1 & 2.

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The NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.

Remember to leave Beaver Nuggets, Butter Tortillas, and Beaver Nuggets for Santa. Maybe he'll put in a good word with the Board of Governors about Houston.Do you believe in Christmas miracles? In this holiday episode of Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast, Savage recaps the latest NHL expansion chatter, reacts to the still-not-ready Olympic ice arena in Italy, and shares the next inductees into the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame. We also, predictably, talk about arenas... again. Plus: beer league holiday charity games, an event you all must go to, and yes… Savage might’ve been wrong about something.00:00 - The Olympic Arena Clustereff02:59 - Houston Hockey Hall of Fame 2026 Inductees10:59 - On the Stars Move to Plano17:54 - Methodology for Last Episode's Arena Data Gathering26:46 - Houston Hockey CalendarFollow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastAdd on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.Chilly's selling coffee now! https://kyas45-js.myshopify.com/collections/allDallas Morning News - Inside the Stars' Move to Plano: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2025/12/11/inside-the-dallas-stars-financial-argument-for-a-move-to-plano-land-and-premium-seats/My wife doesn't like the shirt, either - but if you want one anyway:https://mchockeypodcast.printful.me/Chanukah on Ice: https://www.chanukahonicetx.com/Hockey on ESPN Radio (37:20 mark): https://t.co/0C7gbGksRVNick's Place (Get There Monday Morning): https://nicksplacehouston.com/UH Hockey: https://www.houstonicehockey.com/schedule/upcomingRice Hockey: https://www.instagram.com/ricehockey/Hockey Day in Houston: https://www.hockeydayinhouston.com/

In this episode of Mission Control: Houston’s Hockey Podcast, Savage reacts to Bettman’s CNBC interview, confirming the NHL’s plan to expand by two teams with a price tag “starting with a 2” — and unpacks what that really means for Houston. We break down Olympic arena drama in Milan (spoiler: it’s a complete s-show), why ice size could shake up the tourney, and revisit the Houston arena question with new user-suggested sites. Savage obsesses more about where a Houston NHL team might thrive — and why we still haven’t heard a peep from Friedkin. Plus: local events and a reminder for my students to do their homework.

00:00 - The CNBC interview

03:23 - Olympic Hockey Cluster-Eff05:30 - More Houston NHL Arena Talk

21:54 - Why Haven't We Heard Anything?

27:13 - Houston Hockey Calendar

Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastAdd on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.

God help me, I love this stupid pic so much I had to use it for a thumbnail.Welp. It's not just $2 Billion the league wants. They also want a brand-new, hockey-specific arena — so where could we put one? In addition to exploring viable options, we'll also break down the AAC drama in Dallas, more youth hockey drama, local ball hockey, and Olympic drama/complaining. Mostly, this episode dives deep into what expansion-ready really means. Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastAdd on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.00:00 - A surprising discovery about NHL arenas08:00 - An Analysis of Viable Locations24:47 - Hockey News Stories28:34 - Addressing the New Look34:02 - The Houston Hockey CalendarLINKS:Stars / Mavericks fight over AAC:https://www.fox4news.com/news/future-aac-stake-mavericks-stars-face-off-2026-jury-trialOlympic Officials Concerned about Milan Arena:https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhl-representatives-going-to-milan-for-olympic-arena-update-next-week/Texas AG looking into antitrust for Stars Youth Hockey:https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2025/11/06/texas-ag-reportedly-targeting-stars-in-youth-hockey-antitrust-investigation/Kenny Jacoby on Face-Off Spot Podcast, discussing youth hockey scandal:https://faceoffspotpodcast.com/episodes/episode-186-kenny-jacobyHouston Ghost Riders Ball Hockey:https://www.instagram.com/htxghostriders/NHLtoHouston makes it to Sports Illustrated:https://www.si.com/onsi/breakaway/dallas-stars/2027-stadium-series-could-point-next-expansion-houstonOil Kings Hockey Club Turkey Day Shootout:http://www.eutex.net/oilkings/New%20Pages/2026/M-SCHEDULE-2025savedcopy.htmlISHL Teddy Bear Toss:https://www.ishl.org/news/teddy-bear-toss-and-live-broadcast-friday-decemberGet Tickets for UH Hockey Club Here:https://www.houstonicehockey.com/ticketsRice Hockey Club:https://www.instagram.com/ricehockey/Girls and Womens' Hockey Day:https://www.facebook.com/events/frost-town-brewing/hockey-day-in-houston-girls-womens-hockey-day-in-houston/1208177694686426/Watch Matt on Rafters: Sports & Movies, talking about hockey movies:https://www.youtube.com/live/DZ5xttM8rB4?si=Bk7XZw45rfTJshbq

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While clickbait tweets tease expansion news with nothing, Houston media is quietly hinting at something real: the possibility of a new NHL-caliber arena. We dive into the latest from the Chronicle, explore comments from local hockey leaders, and ask whether a Toyota Center interim solution is feasible. We also ask an uncomfortable and provocative question — because we know all too well how the hype machine works.Putting myself in a thumbnail? IT'S MORE LIKELY THAN YOU THINK!

Addressing the news that isn't news...

00:00 - That damned emoji...

07:30 - Matt's Cup Pick - you can roast me later.

10:37 - The Houston Hockey Calendar

14:50 - Even Fort Worth Gets It...

19:00 - Let's Be Honest...The NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.

The life of a fan... there's a blank space where a NHL team should be.

This episode is a nostalgic look at the IHL era of the Houston Aeros. Matt takes you on a journey with the sights, sounds, and Aeros players of 1994-2001. It's a Love Story that needs a re-release. Whether or not you were there, this episode will show you why fans felt Enchanted.

We'll also cover the busy October ahead, the Phoenix announcement, and what you can do to build the community. Because when it comes to NHL expansion, we were here the whole time, hoping it's us.

Ready for it?

00:00 - SPEAK NOW: The Introduction
08:13 - 198...err, 1994: The Sights and sounds
20:00 - Seeing RED: The Rivalries
31:11 - FOLKLORE: the Cup year
44:38 - MIDNIGHTS (or like, afternoons and evenings): Houston Hockey Events
48:16 - THE TORTURED YOTES FANS DEPARTMENT

Yeah, this one was long. I'm not editing the transcript. Sorry....and yes, there are bad cuts here in the part about SLICE. I wanted to take some venom out.
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OCTOBER CALENDAR:
7th - NHL Opening Night
9th - Stars Opener on Victory+
11th - Face-Off at The Decoy https://www.facebook.com/events/1315860446821525/
13th - WHOAH Fundraiser at Parry's Pizzeria https://www.facebook.com/ParrysSugarLand/posts/-pizza-hockey-a-win-for-everyone-come-out-to-parrys-in-sugar-land-on-monday-octo/122208748718107697/
17th - UT vs UH at SLICE https://www.houstonicehockey.com/games/game-vs-louisiana-state-university-on-10172025-md32dzte/tickets
18th - UH vs Rice at Bellerive
18th - UH Hockey Fundraiser at Raising Cane's Sugar Land https://www.houstonicehockey.com/articles/raising-canes-profit-sharing-with-uh-hockey-club-october-18th-2025-mbffqurs
24th - ETBU vs UH https://www.houstonicehockey.com/games/game-vs-east-texas-baptist-university-on-05302025-mbb64g2e/tickets
25th - ETBU vs UH https://www.houstonicehockey.com/games/game-vs-east-texas-baptist-university-on-10252025-mbb67mgl/tickets

Mentioned in the Show:
Face-Off Spot Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/04hT2gIj6emAu5oIN0KjxpThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your community. Mission Control exists to help build a hockey fan community in Houston.