The 1981–82 QMJHL season was the 13th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The defending Memorial Cup and league champions, the Cornwall Royals left the QMJHL in the offseason, transferring to the Ontario Hockey League. The league was reduced to nine teams, and dissolved divisions. The remaining teams played a shortened schedule of 64 games each in the regular season. That was balanced by an extended first round playoff schedule. The top eight teams in the regular season participated in a double round-robin of 14 games per team, followed by playdowns.