Despite a sixth-place finish in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the University of Minnesota again led college hockey in attendance in 1997-98, topping the nation in overall (201,126) and per-game (10,056) home totals.
All told, West teams occupied the top seven, and eight of the top ten spots in the Division I per-game rankings. Nascent Nebraska-Omaha was second with 8,314 per game, followed by Wisconsin, Michigan State, national champion Michigan, North Dakota and St. Cloud State. New Hampshire led all East teams in eighth place overall, followed by Colorado College and Maine.
Division I
Rk School Gm Total Average
1. Minnesota 20 201,126 10,056
2. Nebraska-Omaha 18 149,652 8,314
3. Wisconsin 18 147,860 8,214
4. Michigan State 21 140,849 6,707
5. Michigan 21 134,621 6,411
6. North Dakota 20 115,715 5,786
7. St. Cloud State 23 128,641 5,593
8. New Hampshire 17 93,585 5,505
9. Colorado College 18 97,145 5,397
10. Maine 15 77,465 5,164
Colorado College experienced the largest increase over 1996-97, a 2,521 per-game jump made possible by the opening of the new Colorado Springs World Arena. In Division II, national champion Alabama-Huntsville led all teams with 2,209 fans per game, while Colby topped Divsion III at 2,077.
Division II
Rk School Gm Total Average
1. Ala.-Huntsville 26 57,429 2,209
2. Bemidji St. 15 25,377 1,692
3. Mercyhurst 10 7,557 756
Division III
Rk School Gm Total Average
1. Colby 10 20,766 2,077
2. Plattsburgh St. 17 32,323 1,901
3. Wis.-Stevens Point 13 12,948 996
4. Rochester Inst. 13 11,179 860
5. St. Norbert 22 18,372 835
6. Oswego St. 13 10,788 830
7. Wis.-Superior 16 11,359 710
8. Wis.-Eau Claire 12 6,536 545
9. Connecticut Col. 14 7,275 520
10. Augsburg 11 5,600 509
