1981 CIAU University Cup

The 1981 CIAU Men's University Cup Hockey Tournament was held at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, Alberta. The Calgary Dinos served as tournament host.

Road to the Cup

Note: * denotes overtime period

Note: * denotes overtime period

Note: * denotes overtime period

Note: * denotes overtime period

Note: * denotes overtime period

The tournament included the five senior league champions as well as the host team. The six teams were sorted by a committee prior to the tournament and arranged so that the two Canada West teams would be in opposite groups.
In the round-robin groups, the teams that finished with the best record would advance to the championship game. If there was a tie for the best record, the first tie-breaker was goal differential. If there was a tie in goal differential, the teams would play sudden death overtime for the advantage.

Team	Qualification	Record	Appearance	Last
[Brandon Bobcats men's ice hockey\|]	Plains: GPAC Champion	25–1–0	3rd	1975
[Calgary Dinos men's ice hockey\|]	Host	19–8–0	4th	1980
[Concordia Stingers men's ice hockey\|]	Quebec: QUAA Champion	26–1–1	6th	1980
[Moncton Aigles Bleus men's ice hockey\|]	Atlantic: AUAA Champion	21–5–1	4th	1980
[Queen's Gaels men's ice hockey\|]	Ontario: OUAA Champion	18–3–5	1st	Never
[Saskatchewan Huskies men's ice hockey\|]	West: Canada West Champion	17–10–0	2nd	1967

Note: * denotes overtime period
Note: round-robin games were played on consecutive days March 12–14