The 1980–81 Austrian Hockey League season was the 51st season of the Austrian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Austria. Eight teams participated in the league, and EC VSV won the championship.
First round
edit| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kapfenberger SV | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 131 | 103 | 39 |
| 2. | EC VSV | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 135 | 102 | 37 |
| 3. | Wiener EV | 28 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 124 | 110 | 31 |
| 4. | ECS Innsbruck | 28 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 141 | 120 | 30 |
| 5. | HC Salzburg | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 86 | 91 | 28 |
| 6. | EC KAC | 28 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 123 | 121 | 24 |
| 7. | VEU Feldkirch | 28 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 115 | 163 | 19 |
| 8. | WAT Stadlau | 28 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 74 | 119 | 16 |
Final round
edit| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts (Bonus) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | EC VSV | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 18 | 12 (3) |
| 2. | Wiener EV | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 24 | 10 (2) |
| 3. | Kapfenberger SV | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 37 | 8 (4) |
| 4. | ECS Innsbruck | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 43 | 4 (1) |
Qualification round
edit| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts (Bonus) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | VEU Feldkirch | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 26 | 11 (2) |
| 6. | EC KAC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 21 | 10 (3) |
| 7. | HC Salzburg | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 25 | 9 (4) |
| 8. | WAT Stadlau | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 33 | 4 (1) |
WAT Stadlau avoided relegation as ATSE Graz declined to be promoted.