1980–81 QMJHL season explained

The 1980–81 QMJHL season was the 12th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurated three new trophies for players. The Marcel Robert Trophy is first awarded to the "Best Scholastic Player" and the Mike Bossy Trophy is first awarded to the "Best Professional Prospect" for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. The league created a second Rookie of the Year award. The existing Michel Bergeron Trophy becomes the "Offensive" Rookie of the Year award, and the Raymond Lagacé Trophy is first awarded to the "Defensive" Rookie of the Year.

Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The defending champion Cornwall Royals finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy, and won their third, and second consecutive President's Cup, defeating the Trois-Rivières Draveurs in the finals. The Royals went on to win their third, and second consecutive Memorial Cup championship at the 1981 Memorial Cup tournament.

Team changes

The Sorel Éperviers remain in Sorel, Quebec after a mid-season move the previous season.

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	42	27	3	87	365	346
72	41	30	1	83	389	364
72	40	29	3	83	381	324
72	34	34	4	72	325	321
72	31	39	2	64	316	337

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	44	26	2	90	403	311
72	36	30	6	78	333	303
72	35	37	0	70	316	328
72	23	46	3	49	262	353
72	21	49	2	44	293	396

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Cornwall Royals	72	81	102	183	69
Chicoutimi /Trois-Rivières	70	68	98	166	64
Sorel Éperviers	72	65	77	142	176
Quebec Remparts	69	53	77	130	16
Sorel / Québec	72	66	63	129	12
Montreal Juniors	63	45	83	128	87
Cornwall Royals	68	52	71	123	102
Shawinigan Cataractes	68	56	62	118	64
Shawinigan Cataractes	72	46	67	113	123
Trois-Rivières Draveurs	68	39	73	112	4
Trois-Rivières Draveurs	69	52	60	112	124

Alain Lemieux was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists).

Michel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall Royals
Jean Béliveau Trophy - Top Scorer, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall Royals
Guy Lafleur Trophy - Playoff MVP, Alain Lemieux, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA, Michel Dufour, Sorel Éperviers
Emile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, Fred Boimistruck, Cornwall Royals
Mike Bossy Trophy - Best Pro Prospect, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall Royals
Michel Bergeron Trophy - Offensive Rookie of the Year, Claude Verret, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Raymond Lagacé Trophy - Defensive Rookie of the Year, Billy Campbell, Montreal Juniors
Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Claude Verret, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Marcel Robert Trophy - Best Scholastic Player, Francois Lecomte, Montreal Juniors

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	42	27	3	87	365	346
72	41	30	1	83	389	364
72	40	29	3	83	381	324
72	34	34	4	72	325	321
72	31	39	2	64	316	337

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	44	26	2	90	403	311
72	36	30	6	78	333	303
72	35	37	0	70	316	328
72	23	46	3	49	262	353
72	21	49	2	44	293	396

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	42	27	3	87	365	346
72	41	30	1	83	389	364
72	40	29	3	83	381	324
72	34	34	4	72	325	321
72	31	39	2	64	316	337

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	44	26	2	90	403	311
72	36	30	6	78	333	303
72	35	37	0	70	316	328
72	23	46	3	49	262	353
72	21	49	2	44	293	396

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	42	27	3	87	365	346
72	41	30	1	83	389	364
72	40	29	3	83	381	324
72	34	34	4	72	325	321
72	31	39	2	64	316	337

GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
72	44	26	2	90	403	311
72	36	30	6	78	333	303
72	35	37	0	70	316	328
72	23	46	3	49	262	353
72	21	49	2	44	293	396