2012 IIHF Women's World Championship

The 2012 Women's World Championship was the 15th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2013 competition, and the 2014 Olympics.

Canada won their tenth title by defeating the United States 5–4 in overtime. Caroline Ouellette scored the decisive goal. The Swiss team, by finishing third, captured their first ever Women's World Championship medal.

Top Division
The Top Division was contested between eight teams from April 7 to April 14, 2012. The event was hosted by USA Hockey in Burlington, Vermont. A new format was used where the top four ranked teams were placed in Group A and were automatically qualified for the final round, and played in the preliminary round was only used to determine seeding for the next round. The top two teams received a bye into the semifinals. Meanwhile, the next four teams played the preliminary round in Group B. The top two teams from Group B joined the others for the final round, while the bottom two team played a best-of-three series, with the loser being relegated next year.

Group A

Group B
 * — promoted to Top Division pool for 2012
 * — promoted to Top Division pool for 2012
 * — promoted to Top Division pool for 2012
 * — promoted to Top Division pool for 2012

Rosters
Each teams roster for the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship consisted of at least 15 skaters (forwards, and defencemen) and 2 goaltenders, and at most 20 skaters and 3 goaltenders. All eight participating nations, through the confirmation of their respective national associations, had to submit a roster by the first IIHF directorate meeting on 6 April 2012.

Group A
All times are local (UTC−4).

Group B
All times are local (UTC−4).

Relegation series
Best of three.

All times are local (UTC−4).


 * The third game of the relegation series was cancelled because Germany won both meetings and Slovakia is therefore relegated.

Final round
All times are local (UTC−4).

Scoring leaders
List shows the top 10 skaters sorted by points, then goals.

Source: IIHF.COM

Leading goaltenders
Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played 40% of their team's minutes are included in this list. Source: IIHF.com

Tournament Awards

 * Media All-Stars
 * Goalkeeper: Florence Schelling
 * Defense: 🇺🇸 Gisele Marvin (USA), 🇨🇦 Laura Fortino (CAN)
 * Forwards: 🇺🇸 Monique Lamoureux-Kolls (USA), 🇺🇸 Kelli Stack (USA), 🇨🇦 Hayley Wickenheiser (CAN)


 * Best players selected by the directorate:
 * Best Goalkeeper: Florence Schelling
 * Best Defenseman: 🇫🇮 Jenni Hiirikoski (FIN)
 * Best Forward: 🇺🇸 Kelli Stack (USA)

Division I
The Division I competition is being held in two groups. Group A games will be played from March 25 to March 31, 2012 in Ventspils, Latvia and Group B will be played from April 9 to April 15, 2012 in Hull, England, Great Britain.

Group A

Group B

Division II
The Division II competition is being held in two groups. Group A games will be played from March 25 to 31, 2012 in Slovenia and Group B will be played from March 10 to 16, 2012 in Seoul, South Korea.

Group A

Group B