1996–97 Czech 1. Liga season

The season 1996/97 was the fourth regular hosting of the first league, the second Czech hockey league. The winners and runners HC Becherovka Karlovy Vary and HC Kralupy nad Vltavou qualified for the Extra Liga relegation in which both teams failed sporty. Later, Karlovy Vary was achieved by the acquisition of the license for the Extraliga HC Olomouc still the rise. The SK Karviná and HC Banik Sokolov descended into the 2nd league.

Mode

In the main round, each team played against any opponent four times and played a total of 52 games. The top two teams qualified for the Extra Liga relegation, the two last placed athlete had to play to avoid relegation in the relegation. For the remaining ten teams, the season was ended prematurely. For a win, each team was given two points, a draw there was a point. For one defeat after regulation time gave no points.

Main Round

Sp = Matches, W = Wins, D = drawn, L = Loss, OTS = Overtime wins, OTN = Overtime defeat, P = Points

Expulsion

• SK Karviná - SK Slavia Horacka Třebíč 0:4 ( 2:3, 1:6, 2:4, 3:4 )
• HC Banik Sokolov - SK Agropodnik Znojmog 0:4 ( 2:3 nV, 0:1, 1:5, 1:4)

In the first League Relegation both participants were subject to their opponents in the best- of-seven series with a sweep and dismounted.