1996-97 Colonial Hockey League season

This was the 1996-97 Colonial Hockey League season. This was the league's sixth and final season under this name. The league was renamed the United Hockey League for the 1997-98 season.

Franchise changes

 * The Detroit Falcons relocated to Port Huron, Michigan and were renamed the Port Huron Border Cats.
 * The Thunder Bay Senators were renamed the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats.
 * The Saginaw Wheels were renamed the Saginaw Lumber Kings.
 * The London Wildcats, which sat out the 1995-96 season were relocated to Dayton, Ohio and were renamed the Dayton Ice Bandits.