First round games were played at campus sites, while 'final four' games were played at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan for the first time.
By winning the tournament, Michigan State received the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the 1982 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
The four teams that finished below eighth place in the standings were not eligible for postseason play.
In the semifinals, the remaining highest and lowest seeds and second highest and second lowest seeds play a single-game, with the winners advancing to the finals.
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against [4] Note: * denotes overtime period(s)