1986 CCHA men's ice hockey tournament

The 1986 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the 15th CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. It was played between March 7 and March 15, 1986. First round games were played at campus sites, while 'final four' games were played at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. By winning the tournament, Western Michigan received the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the 1986 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Format
The tournament featured three rounds of play. The team that finished below eighth place in the standings was not eligible for postseason play. In the quarterfinals, the first and eighth seeds, the second and seventh seeds, the third seed and sixth seeds and the fourth seed and fifth seeds played a best-of-three series, with the winners advancing to the semifinals. In the semifinals, the remaining highest and lowest seeds and second highest and second lowest seeds play a single-game, with the winners advancing to the finals. The tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the 1986 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Conference standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against

Bracket
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

All-Tournament Team
* Most Valuable Player(s)
 * F Stu Burnie* (Western Michigan)
 * F Jamie Wansbrough (Bowling Green)
 * F Dan Dorion (Western Michigan)
 * D Chris MacDonald (Western Michigan)
 * D Wayne Gagné (Western Michigan)
 * G Bill Horn (Western Michigan)