The 1980–81 AHL season was the 45th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears finished first overall in the regular season. The Adirondack Red Wings won their first Calder Cup championship.

Team changes The Syracuse Firebirds cease operations. The Binghamton Dusters become the Binghamton Whalers. The Adirondack Red Wings switch divisions from North to South.

Final standings indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

North y–Maine Mariners (PHI) 80 45 28 7 97 319 292 x–New Brunswick Hawks (CHI/TOR) 80 37 33 10 84 317 298 x–Nova Scotia Voyageurs (MTL/QUE) 80 38 37 5 81 335 298 x–Springfield Indians (BOS) 80 34 41 5 73 312 343

South y–Hershey Bears (QUE/WSH) 80 47 24 9 103 357 299 x–Adirondack Red Wings (DET) 80 35 40 5 75 305 328 x–Binghamton Whalers (HFD/PIT) 80 32 42 6 70 296 336 x–New Haven Nighthawks (NYR) 80 29 40 11 69 295 321 e–Rochester Americans (BUF/QUE) 80 30 42 8 68 295 316

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Mark Lofthouse Hershey Bears 74 48 55 103 131 Dan Daoust Nova Scotia Voyageurs 80 38 60 98 106 Tony Cassolato Hershey Bears 74 48 46 94 23 Dave Gorman Nova Scotia Voyageurs 78 43 47 90 82 Normand Aubin New Brunswick Hawks 79 43 46 89 99 Guy Carbonneau Nova Scotia Voyageurs 78 35 53 88 87 Jean-Francois Sauve Rochester Americans 56 29 54 83 21 Craig Levie Nova Scotia Voyageurs 80 20 62 82 162 Paul Evans Maine Mariners 78 28 52 80 49 Reg Thomas Nova Scotia Voyageurs 74 36 43 79 90 complete list

Calder Cup playoffs

Trophy and award winners Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Adirondack Red Wings F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular Season champions, North Division: Maine Mariners John D. Chick TrophyRegular Season champions, South Division: Hershey Bears Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Pelle Lindbergh - Maine Mariners John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Mark Lofthouse - Hershey Bears Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Pelle Lindbergh - Maine Mariners Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Craig Levie - Nova Scotia Voyageurs Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Pelle Lindbergh & Robbie Moore - Maine Mariners Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Bob McCammon - Maine Mariners Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Tony Cassolato - Hershey Bears Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Ed Anderson James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Rick Wheeler, Rochester, (newspaper)Russ Small, Hershey, (radio)Simeon Smith, Rochester, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: Brent Hancock, Hershey Bears

See also List of AHL seasons

References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB