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.

Adam Wodon, host of national college hockey talk show Around The Rinks, took over The Record poll.

Note: * denotes overtime period(s) [5] 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 [6] 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.

* No Distinction was made between First- and Second-Team All-Stars † incoming freshman‡ Andersson had previous been selected by the Los Angeles Kings in 1990.