1996–97 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season

The 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1996 and concluded with the 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 29, 1997 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was the 50th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 102nd year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

Regular season
===Standings   ===

1997 NCAA Tournament
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Player stats
===Scoring leaders === The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Hockey East
* No Distinction was made between First- and Second-Team All-Stars