1980–81 WHL season

The 1980–81 WHL season was the 15th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), featuring thirteen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Victoria Cougars won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for topping the regular season standings—setting a league record with 60 wins—and the President's Cup as league champions, defeating the Calgary Wranglers in the playoff finals.

The season was the first for both the Spokane Flyers, who reactivated the dormant Great Falls Americans franchise, and the expansion Winnipeg Warriors.

Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

First round

 * Regina defeated Brandon 4 games to 1
 * Calgary defeated Billings 4 games to 1
 * Lethbridge defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 1
 * Spokane defeated New Westminster in 4th place tiebreaker game

Division semi-finals

 * Regina earned a bye
 * Calgary defeated Lethbridge 3 games to 1
 * Victoria defeated Spokane 4 games to 0
 * Portland defeated Seattle 4 games to 1

Division finals

 * Calgary defeated Regina 4 games to 2
 * Victoria defeated Portland 4 games to 0

WHL Championship

 * Victoria defeated Calgary 4 games to 3

All-Star game
On January 20, the WHL All-Stars defeated the Victoria Cougars 8–3 at Victoria, British Columbia before a crowd of 3,520.