The 1996–97 European Hockey League was the first edition of the new tournament for European hockey clubs, the European Hockey League. The season started in September 1996, and finished on January 26, 1997.
The tournament was won by TPS, who beat HC Dynamo Moscow in the final.
First round
Group A
Team #1ScoreTeam #2Manchester Storm 0–6 TPSBerlin Capitals 1–5 Luleå HFTPS 4–2 Berlin CapitalsLuleå HF 10–6 Manchester StormManchester Storm 2–4 Berlin CapitalsTPS 3–3 Luleå HFBerlin Capitals 6–1 Manchester StormLuleå HF 0–3 TPSManchester Storm 0–11 Luleå HFBerlin Capitals 0–2 TPSLuleå HF 1–3 Berlin CapitalsTPS 2–1 Manchester Storm
Group A standings RankTeamPoints 1 TPS 11 2 Luleå HF 7 3 Berlin Capitals 6 4 Manchester Storm 0
Group B Team #1ScoreTeam #2HC Dynamo Moscow 5–0 Färjestad BKVålerenga 2–1 HC České BudějoviceHC České Budějovice 1–1 HC Dynamo MoscowFärjestad BK 7–2 VålerengaVålerenga 1–8 HC Dynamo MoscowHC České Budějovice 3–3 Färjestad BKHC Dynamo Moscow 3–2 VålerengaFärjestad BK 3–5 HC České BudějoviceVålerenga 1–4 Färjestad BKHC Dynamo Moscow 2–6 HC České BudějoviceHC České Budějovice 2–1 VålerengaFärjestad BK 1–2 HC Dynamo Moscow
Group B standings RankTeamPoints 1 HC Dynamo Moscow 9 2 HC České Budějovice 8 3 Färjestad BK 5 4 Vålerenga 2
Group C Team #1ScoreTeam #2HC Sparta Praha 9–1 CE WienHC Slovan Bratislava 7–3 HC CSKA MoscowHC CSKA Moscow 4–1 HC Sparta PrahaCE Wien 0–9 HC Slovan BratislavaHC CSKA Moscow 5–2 CE WienHC Slovan Bratislava 1–5 HC Sparta PrahaHC Sparta Praha 5–3 HC Slovan BratislavaCE Wien 1–5 HC CSKA MoscowHC Sparta Praha 4–2 HC CSKA MoscowHC Slovan Bratislava 6–5 CE WienHC CSKA Moscow 1–2 HC Slovan BratislavaCE Wien 3–4 HC Sparta Praha
Group C standings RankTeamPoints 1 HC Sparta Praha 10 2 HC Slovan Bratislava 8 3 HC CSKA Moscow 6 4 CE Wien 0
Group D Team #1ScoreTeam #2HC Milano 24 1–6 Kölner HaieJokerit 3–1 SC BernKölner Haie 0–1 JokeritSC Bern 8–4 HC Milano 24HC Milano 24 0–11 JokeritKölner Haie 2–2 SC BernJokerit 7–4 HC Milano 24SC Bern 3–3 Kölner HaieJokerit 3–2 Kölner HaieHC Milano 24 3–4 SC BernKölner Haie 3–0 HC Milano 24SC Bern 2–3 Jokerit
Group D standings RankTeamPoints 1 Jokerit 12 2 Kölner Haie 6 3 SC Bern 6 4 HC Milano 24 0
Group E Team #1ScoreTeam #2Västra Frölunda HC 1–2 LukkoRouen HC 3–3 HC LitvínovLukko 4–2 Rouen HCHC Litvínov 1–1 Västra Frölunda HCLukko 3–5 HC LitvínovVästra Frölunda HC 8–0 Rouen HCHC Litvínov 9–4 LukkoRouen HC 2–3 Västra Frölunda HCRouen HC 7–7 LukkoVästra Frölunda HC 6–2 HC LitvínovLukko 3–4 Västra Frölunda HCHC Litvínov 4–2 Rouen HC
Group E standings RankTeamPoints 1 Västra Frölunda HC 9 2 HC Litvínov 8 3 Lukko 5 4 Rouen HC 2
Quarterfinals Team #1ScoreTeam #2HC České Budějovice 2–2 HC Sparta PrahaHC Litvínov 0–2 TPSVästra Frölunda HC 1–1 JokeritHC Slovan Bratislava 1–5 HC Dynamo MoscowHC Sparta Praha 9–3 HC České BudějoviceTPS 4–2 HC LitvínovJokerit 1–2 Västra Frölunda HCHC Dynamo Moscow 3–1 HC Slovan Bratislava
Final stage (Turku, Finland)
Semifinals Team #1ScoreTeam #2TPS 5–3 HC Sparta PrahaHC Dynamo Moscow 3–2 Västra Frölunda HC
Third place match Team #1ScoreTeam #2Västra Frölunda HC 4–3 HC Sparta Praha
Final Team #1ScoreTeam #2TPS 5–2 HC Dynamo Moscow
References Season 1997