This is the 1996-97 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Men's season.
Membership Changes
- The conference adds the Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils.
Standings
| NCHA | Overall Record | ||||||||||||
| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Norbert Green Knights | 20 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 94 | 52 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 128 | 93 |
| Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 88 | 50 | 29 | 27 | 17 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Bemidji State Beavers | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 107 | 63 | 29 | 34 | 26 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 85 | 54 | 27 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | ||
| Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 77 | 56 | 26 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds | 20 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 78 | 106 | 15 | 28 | 10 | 16 | 2 | ||
| Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils | 20 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 75 | 103 | 12 | 27 | 9 | 18 | 0 | ||
| St. Scholastica Saints | 20 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 45 | 95 | 7 | 24 | 7 | 16 | 1 | ||
| Lake Forest Foresters | 20 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 48 | 117 | 3 | 24 | 4 | 19 | 1 | ||
Note: The Bemidji State Beavers were ineligible for the conference tournament as they were a Division II program playing at the Division III level. The team would go on to win the 1997 NCAA Division II Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The program would jump to Division I starting with the 1999-2000 season.
Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
- Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons defeated defeated Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds 2 games to none (4-1, 4-2)
Semifinals
- Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers 2 games to 1 (4-1, 1-2, 1-0)
- Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons defeated St. Norbert Green Knights 2 games to none (2-1, 7-4)
Final
- Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets defeated Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons 2 games to none (3-2, 4-0)
