Ken Houston (ice hockey)
# Ken Houston (ice hockey)

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 season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 | NHL totals | NHL totals | 570 | 161 | 167 | 328 | 624 | 35 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 66 |
