1996-97 German 2. Liga season

The 1996-97 German 2. Liga season was the third season of the 2. Liga as the new third-tier German hockey league. SC Bietigheim-Bissingen won the championship.

Relegation round
The winner qualified for the 2. Liga South, while ESV Königsbrunn played in the Relegation game against the second placed team from the promotion round.

Relegation

 * ESV Königsbrunn – EC Pfaffenhofen 9:3