# 1996–97 European Hockey League

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 #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| Manchester Storm | 0–6 | TPS |
| Berlin Capitals | 1–5 | Luleå HF |
| TPS | 4–2 | Berlin Capitals |
| Luleå HF | 10–6 | Manchester Storm |
| Manchester Storm | 2–4 | Berlin Capitals |
| TPS | 3–3 | Luleå HF |
| Berlin Capitals | 6–1 | Manchester Storm |
| Luleå HF | 0–3 | TPS |
| Manchester Storm | 0–11 | Luleå HF |
| Berlin Capitals | 0–2 | TPS |
| Luleå HF | 1–3 | Berlin Capitals |
| TPS | 2–1 | Manchester Storm |

### Group A standings

| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | TPS | 11 |
| 2 | Luleå HF | 7 |
| 3 | Berlin Capitals | 6 |
| 4 | Manchester Storm | 0 |

### Group B

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| HC Dynamo Moscow | 5–0 | Färjestad BK |
| Vålerenga | 2–1 | HC České Budějovice |
| HC České Budějovice | 1–1 | HC Dynamo Moscow |
| Färjestad BK | 7–2 | Vålerenga |
| Vålerenga | 1–8 | HC Dynamo Moscow |
| HC České Budějovice | 3–3 | Färjestad BK |
| HC Dynamo Moscow | 3–2 | Vålerenga |
| Färjestad BK | 3–5 | HC České Budějovice |
| Vålerenga | 1–4 | Färjestad BK |
| HC Dynamo Moscow | 2–6 | HC České Budějovice |
| HC České Budějovice | 2–1 | Vålerenga |
| Färjestad BK | 1–2 | HC Dynamo Moscow |

### Group B standings

| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | HC Dynamo Moscow | 9 |
| 2 | HC České Budějovice | 8 |
| 3 | Färjestad BK | 5 |
| 4 | Vålerenga | 2 |

### Group C

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| HC Sparta Praha | 9–1 | CE Wien |
| HC Slovan Bratislava | 7–3 | HC CSKA Moscow |
| HC CSKA Moscow | 4–1 | HC Sparta Praha |
| CE Wien | 0–9 | HC Slovan Bratislava |
| HC CSKA Moscow | 5–2 | CE Wien |
| HC Slovan Bratislava | 1–5 | HC Sparta Praha |
| HC Sparta Praha | 5–3 | HC Slovan Bratislava |
| CE Wien | 1–5 | HC CSKA Moscow |
| HC Sparta Praha | 4–2 | HC CSKA Moscow |
| HC Slovan Bratislava | 6–5 | CE Wien |
| HC CSKA Moscow | 1–2 | HC Slovan Bratislava |
| CE Wien | 3–4 | HC Sparta Praha |

### Group C standings

| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | HC Sparta Praha | 10 |
| 2 | HC Slovan Bratislava | 8 |
| 3 | HC CSKA Moscow | 6 |
| 4 | CE Wien | 0 |

### Group D

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| HC Milano 24 | 1–6 | Kölner Haie |
| Jokerit | 3–1 | SC Bern |
| Kölner Haie | 0–1 | Jokerit |
| SC Bern | 8–4 | HC Milano 24 |
| HC Milano 24 | 0–11 | Jokerit |
| Kölner Haie | 2–2 | SC Bern |
| Jokerit | 7–4 | HC Milano 24 |
| SC Bern | 3–3 | Kölner Haie |
| Jokerit | 3–2 | Kölner Haie |
| HC Milano 24 | 3–4 | SC Bern |
| Kölner Haie | 3–0 | HC Milano 24 |
| SC Bern | 2–3 | Jokerit |

### Group D standings

| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | Jokerit | 12 |
| 2 | Kölner Haie | 6 |
| 3 | SC Bern | 6 |
| 4 | HC Milano 24 | 0 |

### Group E

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| Västra Frölunda HC | 1–2 | Lukko |
| Rouen HC | 3–3 | HC Litvínov |
| Lukko | 4–2 | Rouen HC |
| HC Litvínov | 1–1 | Västra Frölunda HC |
| Lukko | 3–5 | HC Litvínov |
| Västra Frölunda HC | 8–0 | Rouen HC |
| HC Litvínov | 9–4 | Lukko |
| Rouen HC | 2–3 | Västra Frölunda HC |
| Rouen HC | 7–7 | Lukko |
| Västra Frölunda HC | 6–2 | HC Litvínov |
| Lukko | 3–4 | Västra Frölunda HC |
| HC Litvínov | 4–2 | Rouen HC |

### Group E standings

| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | Västra Frölunda HC | 9 |
| 2 | HC Litvínov | 8 |
| 3 | Lukko | 5 |
| 4 | Rouen HC | 2 |

## Quarterfinals

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| HC České Budějovice | 2–2 | HC Sparta Praha |
| HC Litvínov | 0–2 | TPS |
| Västra Frölunda HC | 1–1 | Jokerit |
| HC Slovan Bratislava | 1–5 | HC Dynamo Moscow |
| HC Sparta Praha | 9–3 | HC České Budějovice |
| TPS | 4–2 | HC Litvínov |
| Jokerit | 1–2 | Västra Frölunda HC |
| HC Dynamo Moscow | 3–1 | HC Slovan Bratislava |

## Final stage

(Turku, Finland)

### Semifinals

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| TPS | 5–3 | HC Sparta Praha |
| HC Dynamo Moscow | 3–2 | Västra Frölunda HC |

### Third place match

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| Västra Frölunda HC | 4–3 | HC Sparta Praha |

### Final

| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
| TPS | 5–2 | HC Dynamo Moscow |