1996-97 CCHA season

This is the 1996-97 Central Collegiate Hockey Association season. This was the league's twenty-sixth season.

Membership changes

 * The Univerisity of Illinois-Chicago ended its men's varsity ice hockey program.

Standings
Team                     GP  W  L T  P  GF  GA  Michigan Wolverines       27 21  3 3 46 151  64 Miami Redskins           27 19  7 1 39 112  79 Michigan State Spartans  27 16  7 4 36  99  76 Lake Superior Lakers     27 15  8 4 34 106  98 Bowling Green Falcons    27 10 12 5 25 100 104 Western Michigan Broncos 27 10 12 5 25  94  99 Ohio State Buckeyes      27  9 16 2 20  95 132 Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks 27  8 18 1 17  92 126 Ferris State Bulldogs    27  7 18 2 16  83 121 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 27 6 20 1 13  73 106

First Round (best of three)

 * Michigan defeated Alaska-Fairbanks two games to none (8-1, 11-0)
 * Miami defeated Ohio State two games to none (4-1, 4-2)
 * Michigan State defeated Western Michigan two games to none (4-1, 3-1)
 * Bowling Green defeated Lake Superior two games to none (5-3, 8-4)

Semifinals

 * Michigan defeated Bowling Green 7 to 2
 * Michigan State defeated Miami 4 to 3

Final

 * Michigan defeated Michigan State 3 to 1

NCAA Tournament
Michigan Michigan State Miami
 * defeated Minnesota 7 to 4 in the West Regional semifinals
 * lost to Boston University 3 to 2 in the West Regional finals
 * lost to Minnesota 6 to 3 in the West Regional quarterfinals
 * lost to Cornell 4 to 2 in the West regional quarterfinals