1980–81 AHL season

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[]

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

North	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA
Maine Mariners (PHI)	80	45	28	7	97	319	292
New Brunswick Hawks (TOR/CHI)	80	37	33	10	84	317	298
Nova Scotia Voyageurs (MON/QUE)	80	38	37	5	81	335	298
Springfield Indians (BOS)	80	34	41	5	73	312	343

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

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

Calder Cup Playoff champions:	Adirondack Red Wings
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, North Division:	Maine Mariners
John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, South Division:	Hershey Bears

Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player:	Pelle Lindbergh - Maine Mariners
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer:	Mark Lofthouse - Hershey Bears
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year:	Pelle Lindbergh - Maine Mariners
Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year:	Craig Levie - Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average:	Pelle Lindbergh & Robbie Moore - Maine Mariners
Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year:	Bob McCammon - Maine Mariners
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Sportsmanship / Perseverance:	Tony Cassolato - Hershey Bears

James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive:	Ed Anderson
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage:	Rick Wheeler, Rochester, (newspaper) , Hershey, (radio) , Rochester, (television)
Ken McKenzie Award Outstanding marketing executive:	, Hershey Bears

Preceded by 1979–80 AHL season	AHL seasons	Succeeded by 1981–82 AHL season