The IHL returns with a new-look format and a new-look rulebook this weekend, as the league splits into a Premier and Championship division -- showing the skyrocketing participation in hockey on CivMC.

And, that's not all for new competitions. Season 2 will also see the debut of the International Cup, a competition loosely inspired by the famous FA Cup of English football. Yes, it's football, not s*ccer...

Much like its real-life inspiration, the International Cup will see the six IHL-debutants enter in Round 1, before the Imperial Feds, Lyrean Lions, and Salerno Salerknights join in Round 2, as Bloom Belugas, Commonwealth Crowns, Exyria Exorcists, Gothia Goths, and Shiro Tigers receive an automatic bye to Round 3.

However, questions could be asked about the decision to allow teams to automatically progress through.

But, the English FA Cup is a stellar example of the system working. In real life, the joys of the smaller teams being able to make a cup run and then battle it out with one of the heavy-hitters is coined 'the magic of the Cup.'

This magic may also have been the motivation in allowing the two top-performing teams of the Championship to enter the CivBowl, giving two teams from Season 2's second division the opportunity to play on the grandest stage of them all.

Perhaps, along the way, some buzzer beaters will help in that quest -- which are now officially on the table. "A shot made as time expires is now allowed to conclude and potentially score as long as the puck leaves the player’s hand before the clock reaches zero," the rules say, which has the potential to lead to some momentous series-defining moments.

Elsewhere, the rule changes aim to keep the flow of games as simple as possible, while also encouraging fair play.

The previous false start system has been replaced by one which sees offenders get a warning for their first infraction, meaning the start would be reset rather than being a penalty against their side. This goes hand-in-hand with more general encouragement that asks referees to protect the pace of play as a priority.

A new 'advantage gained' rule continues to enable this, allowing players to self-correct infractions if it did not impact gameplay.

Teams will also now have to utilise their two challenges with increasing caution, as a team's second failed challenge will result in a penalty for delaying the game -- a vote which passed with a narrow 5:4 margin.

In more skimmable news, a player who commits three fouls during a game can be 'fouled out', the mercenary limit has decreased to one, and the tiebreak system has been altered to prioritise fewest forfeits, head-to-head record, and goal difference.