2009 IIHF Women's World Championship

The 2009 IIHF World Women's Championships was held in Hämeenlinna, Finland, from 4 to 12 April 2009. This was the 12th women's ice hockey world championship run by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The defending champions United States defeated Canada 4–1 in the final match to win the gold medal and retain their top standing another year.

This was the last world championships with nine teams in the Top Division. Two teams—Japan and China—were relegated to Division I, replaced by only one—Slovakia—promoted from there. Division I also relegated two, Czech Republic and France, while receiving only one team through promotion, Latvia, along with the two from the top division. Division II only relegated one team, the Netherlands, but did not receive any promoted teams from the lower divisions. The lower divisions of III, IV, and V, were canceled for the 2009 cycle, with the lowest seeded team in each to be dropped down one division. The final result was that the Top Division will be reduced in size by one team for 2011, while the lowest division (Division V) will increase by one team.

Preliminary round
All times are local (Eastern European Summer Time – UTC+3).

Qualifying round
All times are local (Eastern European Summer Time – UTC+3).

Relegation round
All times are local (Eastern European Summer Time – UTC+3).

Scoring leaders
Source: IIHF.com

Goaltending leaders
(minimum 40% team's total ice time)

TOI = Time on ice (minutes:seconds); GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; Sv% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts Source: IIHF.com

Directorate Awards
Source: IIHF.com
 * Goaltender: Charline Labonté,
 * Defenseman: Jenni Hiirikoski,
 * Forward: Hayley Wickenheiser,

Media All-Stars
Source:
 * Goaltender: Jessie Vetter,
 * Defensemen: Angela Ruggiero, ; Carla MacLeod,
 * Forwards: Julie Chu, ; Michelle Karvinen, ; Natalie Darwitz,
 * MVP: Carla MacLeod,

Division I
The Division I tournament was played in Graz, Austria, from 4 to 10 April 2009.

All times are local (Central European Summer Time – UTC+2).

Scoring leaders
Source: IIHF.com

Goaltending leaders
(minimum 40% team's total ice time)

Source: IIHF.com

Directorate Awards

 * Goaltender: Zuzana Tomčíková,
 * Defenseman: Iveta Karafiátová,
 * Forward: Maritta Becker,

Source: IIHF.com

Division II
The Division II tournament was played in Torre Pellice, Italy, from 12 to 18 April 2009.

All times are local (Central European Summer Time – UTC+2).

Scoring leaders
Source: IIHF.com

Goaltending leaders
(minimum 40% team's total ice time)

Source: IIHF.com

Directorate Awards
Source: IIHF.com
 * Goaltender: Lolita Andrisevska,
 * Defenseman: Linda de Rocco,
 * Forward: Iveta Koka,
 * MVP   : Iveta Koka

Division III, Division IV and Division V
The Division III, Division IV and Division V were not played this year. The respective tournaments were cancelled. The reasons seem to be multiple. No country wanted to assume the financial costs of the tournaments. The tournaments will be scheduled for 2011. It has the effect the following changes:
 * Iceland is not promoted to the Division III, but stay in the Division IV.
 * Turkey is now relegated from Division IV to the new Division V.
 * Division V will then consist of Turkey, and the four new nations who were to play in 2009: Bulgaria, Ireland, Poland and Spain.