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 | 80 | 45 | 28 | 7 | 97 | 319 | 292 |
| New Brunswick Hawks | 80 | 37 | 33 | 10 | 84 | 317 | 298 |
| Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 80 | 38 | 37 | 5 | 81 | 335 | 298 |
| Springfield Indians | 80 | 34 | 41 | 5 | 73 | 312 | 343 |
| South | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| Hershey Bears | 80 | 47 | 24 | 9 | 103 | 357 | 299 |
| Adirondack Red Wings | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 75 | 305 | 328 |
| Binghamton Whalers | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 70 | 296 | 336 |
| New Haven Nighthawks | 80 | 29 | 40 | 11 | 69 | 295 | 321 |
| Rochester Americans | 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 |
Trophy and award winners
;Team awards
;Individual awards
;Other awards
