The 1980–81 OHL season was the first season of the newly established Ontario Hockey League, renaming itself from the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.
The OMJHL formally severed ties with the Ontario Hockey Association over the summer, and affiliated with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.
The OHL inaugurated the Jack Ferguson Award for the first overall draft pick in the OHL entry draft.
The Kitchener Rangers won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Sault Ste.
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched first round bye; z = clinched division title & first round bye [1]