The 2011–12 CWHL season was the fifth in league history. Regular season play begun on October 22, 2011, as the defending champion Montreal Stars host the Brampton Thunder. The league expanded from five teams to six as Team Alberta joined the league for competitive play. The 2012 Clarkson Cup in Niagara Falls was also contested between the Stars and Thunder, with Montreal winning its second consecutive title.
Offseason
News and notes
April 19: The league announced on April 19, 2011, that it would merge with the Western Women's Hockey League for the 2011-12 season. The merger will feature one team based in Edmonton and Calgary and is a combination of the former WWHL franchises the Edmonton Chimos and Strathmore Rockies. The team will play their games in various locations around Alberta. Strathmore Rockies founder Samantha Holmes-Domagala, will join the sponsorship division of the CWHL and look after the requirements of the expansion team.
July 21, 2011: Philanthropist Joan Snyder donated $2 million to Winsport Canada. The goal is to ensure priority rink access to female hockey players at all levels, and help expand the Canadian Women's Hockey League with the creation of Team Alberta. Part of the donation will cover the new addition to the Athletic and Ice Complex at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. This will serve as the future home to Hockey Canada. In addition, there shall be four hockey rinks, one of which will be aptly called the Joan Snyder Rink. Team Alberta will benefit with the allocation of free practice time, a dressing room exclusive to the club.
CWHL Draft
The following are the first ten overall picks in the CWHL Draft. For further detail, please see 2011 CWHL Draft
On November 2, 2011, Scanzano was on loan from the Toronto Furies, as she appeared in one game for the Brampton Thunder. The game was an exhibition contest versus her alma mater, the Mercyhurst Lakers. In the second period of said contest, Scanzano scored the game-winning goal as the Thunder defeated the Lakers by a 3-1 tally.
Regular season
News and notes
October 13, 2011: The CWHL will participate in two charity hockey games for cancer research at Windsor Arena. The event is called 'Stick It To Cancer' and the Montreal Stars will compete versus the Toronto Furies in two games on Nov. 26 and 27. The campaign is being organized in partnership by the CWHL, along with Breast Ride Ever, a not-for-profit organization. Proceeds from the games will benefit local cancer programs and the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County.
On November 18, 2011, several Burlington Barracudas players competed in the first ever Hockey Helps The Homeless Women's Tournament. Said tournament was held at the Magna Centre in Newmarket, Ontario.
November 19, at Montreal, the second annual "Game on to beat breast cancer" benefit. The target to surpass last year's donation results was far exceeded. A new attendance record was also set at the game, with over 1,100 fans in the stands. December 8, Montréal Stars offer a cheque for close to $15 000 to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation
Barracudas players Christina Kessler and Shannon Moulson were part of an event at Power Play Sports in Niagara Falls, Ontario on December 20, 2011 to promote the 2012 Clarkson Cup. After the event, they met players from the NFGHA for photographs and autographs.
Season standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points.
Team Alberta CWHL plays only half of the number of regular matches. This because of the geographical estrangement. Points are consequently adjusted with another teams. Reference
The postseason was held at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario. All teams played in a round robin to determine the contestants in the Clarkson Cup finals.
