The 1980–81 IHL season was the 36th season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. Eight teams participated in the regular season, and the Saginaw Gears won the Turner Cup.

Regular season

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East Division GP W L T GF GA Pts
Saginaw Gears 82 45 29 8 392 289 98
Port Huron Flags 82 31 35 16 337 377 78
Flint Generals 82 32 42 8 324 363 72
Toledo Goaldiggers 82 26 47 9 303 392 61
West Division GP W L T GF GA Pts
Kalamazoo Wings 82 52 20 10 369 244 114
Fort Wayne Komets 82 37 30 15 337 303 89
Milwaukee Admirals 82 32 35 15 354 371 79
Muskegon Mohawks 82 28 45 9 274 351 65

Turner Cup Playoffs

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Turner Cup quarterfinals Turner Cup semifinals Turner Cup final
         
W1 Kalamazoo Wings 4
E3 Flint Generals 0
E3 Flint Generals 2
W4 Muskegon Mohawks 1
W1 Kalamazoo Wings 0
E1 Saginaw Gears 4
E1 Saginaw Gears 4
E2 Port Huron Flags 0
E1 Saginaw Gears 4
W2 Fort Wayne Komets 1
W2 Fort Wayne Komets 4
W3 Milwaukee Admirals 3

Quarterfinals

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(E3) Flint Generals vs. (W4) Muskegon Mohawks

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April 8 Muskegon Mohawks 1–4 Flint Generals IMA Sports Arena
April 9 Flint Generals 1–2 Muskegon Mohawks L. C. Walker Arena
April 11 Muskegon Mohawks 4–5 OT Flint Generals IMA Sports Arena
Flint won series 2–1


(E1) Saginaw Gears vs. (E2) Port Huron Flags

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April 8 Port Huron Flags 0–3 Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
April 10 Saginaw Gears 4–1 Port Huron Flags McMorran Arena
April 11 Port Huron Flags 3–4 OT Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
April 15 Saginaw Gears 4–3 Port Huron Flags McMorran Arena
Saginaw won series 4–0


(W2) Fort Wayne Komets vs. (W3) Milwaukee Admirals

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April 8 Milwaukee Admirals 4–5 OT Fort Wayne Komets War Memorial Coliseum
April 9 Fort Wayne Komets 4–8 Milwaukee Admirals Wilson Park Recreation Center
April 11 Milwaukee Admirals 3–4 Fort Wayne Komets War Memorial Coliseum
April 15 Fort Wayne Komets 2–4 Milwaukee Admirals Wilson Park Recreation Center
April 17 Milwaukee Admirals 5–4 Fort Wayne Komets War Memorial Coliseum
April 18 Fort Wayne Komets 4–2 Milwaukee Admirals Wilson Park Recreation Center
April 20 Milwaukee Admirals 3–7 Fort Wayne Komets War Memorial Coliseum
Fort Wayne won series 4–3


Semifinals

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(W1) Kalamazoo Wings vs. (E3) Flint Generals

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April 18 Flint Generals 0–5 Kalamazoo Wings Wings Stadium
April 22 Kalamazoo Wings 5–4 Flint Generals IMA Sports Arena
April 24 Flint Generals 3–10 Kalamazoo Wings Wings Stadium
April 26 Kalamazoo Wings 7–6 Flint Generals IMA Sports Arena
Kalamazoo won series 4–0


(E1) Saginaw Gears vs. (W2) Fort Wayne Komets

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April 22 Fort Wayne Komets 0–2 Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
April 24 Saginaw Gears 4–5 Fort Wayne Komets War Memorial Coliseum
April 25 Fort Wayne Komets 2–10 Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
April 29 Saginaw Gears 4–3 Fort Wayne Komets War Memorial Coliseum
May 1 Fort Wayne Komets 2–6 Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
Saginaw won series 4–1


Turner Cup final

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(W1) Kalamazoo Wings vs. (E1) Saginaw Gears

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May 3 Saginaw Gears 6–3 Kalamazoo Wings Wings Stadium
May 6 Kalamazoo Wings 3–4 Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
May 8 Saginaw Gears 4–3 Kalamazoo Wings Wings Stadium
May 9 Kalamazoo Wings 1–4 Saginaw Gears Saginaw Civic Center
Saginaw won series 4–0


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