1979-80 CCHA season

This is the 1979-80 Central Collegiate Hockey Association season. This was the league's ninth season.

Membership changes
The St. Louis Billikens varsity program was ended and the team was dropped from the league.

Standings
Team                      GP  W  L T  P  GF  GA  Northern Michigan Wildcats 20 17  3 0 34 113  63 Ohio State Buckeyes       20 14  5 1 29 110  70 Ferris State Bulldogs     20 11  9 0 22 108  94 Bowling Green Falcons     20  9 11 0 18  87  90 Western Michigan Broncos  20  6 13 1 13  95 119 Lake Superior Lakers      20  2 18 0  4  63 140

Semifinals

 * Northern Michigan defeated Bowling Green 14 goals to 6 (3-3, 11-3) in a two game total goals series
 * Ferris State defeated Ohio State 12 goals to 8 (4-4, 8-4) in a two game total goals series

Final

 * Northern Michigan defeated Ferris State 15 goals to 9 (7-3, 8-6) in a two game total goals series.

NCAA Tournament
Northern Michigan
 * defeated Minnesota 4 to 3 in the national quarterfinals
 * defeated Cornell 5 to 4 in the national semifinals
 * lost to North Dakota 5 to 2 in the national championship