The 1979–80 QMJHL season was the 11th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Castors finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy. The Cornwall Royals, led by rookie Dale Hawerchuk won the President's Cup, defeating the Sherbrooke Castors in the finals. Cornwall went on to win the 1980 Memorial Cup, winning their second Memorial Cup championship.
The Laval National are renamed the Laval Voisins.The Verdun Éperviers return to Sorel, Quebec, mid-season.Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; Pts = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against
complete list of standings.Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
complete scoring statisticsDale Hawerchuk was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists).
QuarterfinalsSherbrooke Castors defeated Hull Olympiques 4 games to 0.Cornwall Royals defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 3.Chicoutimi Saguenéens defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4 games to 3.Montreal Juniors defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 1.SemifinalsSherbrooke Castors defeated Montreal Juniors 4 games to 1.Cornwall Royals defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 1.FinalsCornwall Royals defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 2.First teamGoaltender - Paul Pageau, Shawinigan CataractesLeft defence - Fred Arthur, Cornwall RoyalsRight defence - Gaston Therrien, Quebec RempartsLeft winger - Gilles Hamel, Chicoutimi SaguenéensCentreman - J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs & Denis Savard, Montreal JuniorsRight winger - Denis Cyr, Montreal JuniorsCoach - Doug Carpenter, Cornwall RoyalsSecond teamGoaltender - Corrado Micalef, Sherbrooke CastorsLeft defence - Normand Rochefort, Trois-Rivières DraveursRight defence - Dave Ezard, Cornwall RoyalsLeft winger - Pierre Aubry, Trois-Rivières Draveurs & Louis Begin, Sherbrooke CastorsCentreman - Guy Carbonneau, Chicoutimi SaguenéensRight winger - Brian Johnson, Sherbrooke CastorsCoach - Ghislain Delage, Sherbrooke Castors & Gaston Drapeau, Quebec RempartsList of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars.Trophies and awards
TeamPresident's Cup - Playoff Champions, Cornwall Royals.Jean Rougeau Trophy - Regular Season Champions, Sherbrooke Castors.Robert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA, Sherbrooke Castors.PlayerMichel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Denis Savard, Montreal Juniors.Jean Béliveau Trophy - Top Scorer, J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.Guy Lafleur Trophy - Playoff MVP, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall Royals.Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA, Corrado Micalef, Sherbrooke Castors.Emile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, Gaston Therrien, Quebec Remparts.Michel Bergeron Trophy - Rookie of the Year, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall Royals .Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs. 