Ken Houston

Kenneth Lyle Houston (September 15, 1953 – March 10, 2018) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1975 and 1984. He helped the Calgary Flames reach the NHL playoff semifinals for the first time in club history in 1981.

Playing career Originally drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL entry draft, Houston played seven seasons for the franchise, including two after the team relocated to Calgary. He was traded along with Pat Riggin to the Washington Capitals following the 1981–82 NHL season.

Houston played for the Capitals until October 1983 when he was dealt along with Brian Engblom to the Los Angeles Kings in the trade that sent Larry Murphy to the Capitals. He retired at the end of the 1983–84 NHL season.

Post-playing career

Houston died of cancer on March 10, 2018.

The hockey arena in Dresden, Ontario, the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre, is named in his honour. An annual harness horse race at Dresden Raceway is dedicated to him.

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1971–72 Chatham Junior Maroons SOJHL 48 8 24 32 213 — — — — — 1972–73 Chatham Junior Maroons SOJHL 52 14 41 55 60 — — — — — 1973–74 Omaha Knights CHL 71 8 22 30 144 5 1 1 2 6 1974–75 Omaha Knights CHL 78 9 32 41 158 6 1 7 8 8 1975–76 Atlanta Flames NHL 38 5 6 11 11 2 0 0 0 0 1975–76 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 27 14 15 29 56 — — — — — 1976–77 Atlanta Flames NHL 78 20 24 44 35 3 0 0 0 4 1977–78 Atlanta Flames NHL 74 22 16 38 51 2 0 0 0 0 1978–79 Atlanta Flames NHL 80 21 31 52 135 1 0 0 0 16 1979–80 Atlanta Flames NHL 80 23 31 54 100 4 1 1 2 10 1980–81 Calgary Flames NHL 42 15 15 30 93 16 7 8 15 28 1981–82 Calgary Flames NHL 70 22 22 44 91 3 1 0 1 4 1982–83 Washington Capitals NHL 71 25 14 39 93 4 1 0 1 4 1983–84 Washington Capitals NHL 4 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1983–84 Los Angeles Kings NHL 33 8 8 16 11 — — — — — NHL totals 570 161 167 328 624 35 10 9 19 66