When all is said and done, this is how the countries sorted themselves out for the 2011 IIHF World Championship season.  After the jump, you can see all the standings from 17th through 43rd (and beyond):

2011 IIHF World Championships

Rank	Country	2012 Tournament
Gold	Finland	Championship
Silver	Sweden	Championship
Bronze	Czech Republic	Championship
4	Russia	Championship
5	Canada	Championship
6	Norway	Championship
7	Germany	Championship
8	United States of America	Championship
9	Switzerland	Championship
10	Slovakia	Championship
11	Denmark	Championship
12	France	Championship
13	Latvia	Championship
14	Belarus	Championship
15	Austria	Division 1A
16	Slovenia	Division 1A

17	Kazakhstan	Championship
18	Italy	Championship
19	Hungary	Division 1A
20	Great Britain	Division 1A
21	Ukraine	Division 1A
22	South Korea	Division 1B
23	Poland	Division 1B
24	The Netherlands	Division 1B
25	Lithuania	Division 1B
26	Spain	Division 2A
27	Estonia	Division 2A
28	Romania	Division 1B
29	Australia	Division 1B
30	Croatia	Division 2A
31	New Zealand	Division 2A
32	Serbia	Division 2A
33	Iceland	Division 2A
34	Belgium	Division 2B
35	China	Division 2B
36	Mexico	Division 2B
37	Bulgaria	Division 2B
38	Ireland	Division 3
39	Israel	Division 2B
40	South Africa	Division 2B
41	Turkey	Division 3
42	Luxembourg	Division 3
43	Greece	Division 3
DNP	Japan	Division 1A
DSQ	North Korea	Division 3
DSQ	Mongolia	Division 3

Japan did not participate in this year's championships due to the earthquake/tsunami that devastated the country in March.  As a result, they will officially be given 28th place, but next year will maintain the 21st seed they earned in 2010, and play in Division 1A as a result.