First round games were played at campus sites, while 'final four' games were played at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
By winning the tournament, Western Michigan received the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the 1986 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
The team that finished below eighth place in the standings was not eligible for postseason play.
In the semifinals, the remaining highest and lowest seeds and second highest and second lowest seeds play a single-game, with the winners advancing to the finals.
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against [4] Note: * denotes overtime period(s)