b Halifax and Truro were the sites for 2020 IIHF World Championship; the conclusion of the tournament the ranking was to be finalized with regards to the direct qualification slots, but several 2020 Women's Ice Hockey World Championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeding for 2020 was used in lieu of placement to determine ranking for unplayed tournaments.
Format
The ten teams were split into two groups of five teams each, in which they played against each team once. All teams from Group A and the top-three ranked teams from Group B advanced to the quarterfinals. A knockout system was used after the group stage.
In each group, teams were ranked according to the following criteria:
Number of points (three points for a regulation-time win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout defeat, no points for a regulation-time defeat);
In case two teams are tied on points, the result of their head-to-head match will determine the ranking;
In case three or four teams are tied on points, the following criteria will apply (if, after applying a criterion, only two teams remain tied, the result of their head-to-head match will determine their ranking):
Points obtained in head-to-head matches between the teams concerned;
Goal differential in head-to-head matches between the teams concerned;
Number of goals scored in head-to-head matches between the teams concerned;
If three teams remain tied, result of head-to-head matches between each of the teams concerned and the remaining team in the group (points, goal difference, goals scored);
TOI = Time on Ice (minutes:seconds); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; Sv% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts
Source: IIHF
Awards
The all-star team was announced on 17 February 2022.[12]