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.
The Sorel Éperviers remain in Sorel, Quebec after a mid-season move the previous 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 statisticsAlain Lemieux was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists).
QuarterfinalsCornwall Royals defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 3.Trois-Rivières Draveurs defeated Montreal Juniors 4 games to 3.Chicoutimi Saguenéens defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 1.Sherbrooke Castors defeated Sorel Éperviers 4 games to 3.SemifinalsCornwall Royals defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 3.Trois-Rivières Draveurs defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 3.FinalsCornwall Royals defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4 games to 1.First teamGoaltender - Corrado Micalef, Sherbrooke CastorsLeft defence - Pierre Sevigny, Trois-Rivières DraveursRight defence - Fred Boimistruck, Cornwall RoyalsLeft winger - Normand Lefrancois, Trois-Rivières DraveursCentreman - Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall RoyalsRight winger - Sean McKenna, Sherbrooke CastorsCoach - Andre Boisvert, Sherbrooke CastorsSecond teamGoaltender - Michel Dufor, Sorel ÉperviersLeft defence - Robert Savard, Cornwall RoyalsRight defence - Gilbert Delorme, Chicoutimi SaguenéensLeft winger - Normand Leveille, Chicoutimi SaguenéensCentreman - Alain Lemieux, Trois-Rivières DraveursRight winger - Jean-Marc Gaulin, Sorel ÉperviersCoach - Bob Kilger, Cornwall RoyalsList of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars.Trophies and awards
TeamPresident's Cup - Playoff Champions, Cornwall RoyalsJean Rougeau Trophy - Regular Season Champions, Cornwall RoyalsRobert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA, Sorel ÉperviersPlayerMichel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall RoyalsJean Béliveau Trophy - Top Scorer, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall RoyalsGuy Lafleur Trophy - Playoff MVP, Alain Lemieux, Trois-Rivières DraveursJacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA, Michel Dufour, Sorel ÉperviersEmile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, Fred Boimistruck, Cornwall RoyalsMike Bossy Trophy - Best Pro Prospect, Dale Hawerchuk, Cornwall RoyalsMichel Bergeron Trophy - Offensive Rookie of the Year, Claude Verret, Trois-Rivières DraveursRaymond Lagacé Trophy - Defensive Rookie of the Year, Billy Campbell, Montreal JuniorsFrank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Claude Verret, Trois-Rivières DraveursMarcel Robert Trophy - Best Scholastic Player, Francois Lecomte, Montreal Juniors 