For a start, all the best players will be available, as the league is considered an important selection event before the London Olympics next year.
There will be no draws, organisers having introduced a penalty shoot-out at the end of regulation time, to ensure every game has a winner.
And players will return to their region of origin, in a move designed to strengthen hockey and create a more competitive competition.
For Southern Men, that means home-grown talent like Black Sticks Hugo Inglis and Blair Tarrant will return to the province. Goalie Hamish McGregor is another who will suit up for Southern again.
But all the other sides also get stronger.
However, Southern Storm does not benefit. It will be the only team in the women's competition without a member of the national squad.
Southern Men's coach Dave Ross said the changes were a mixed blessing.
"It is quite nice to have Blair and Hugo back but it also means other teams like Central, who we traditionally beat, get the likes of Shea McAleese and Nick Wilson back," Ross said.
"While we will be a little bit stronger, so are all the other provinces. So we're still up against it."
The quality of the league should see a marked improvement, which will be good for the spectators. And the introduction of a ice hockey-style penalty shoot-out is expected to be a crowd-pleaser.
If a game is tied at fulltime, five players from each side will compete with the opposing goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
They will start from the 25m line and have eight seconds to score.
The shoot-out will continue until there is a clear winner.
The format was tested during the national under-21 tournament and proved popular, although Ross was not convinced the innovation was a good development.
"The penalty shoot-out is mainly for the crowds," he said.
"Anything that adds crowd-appeal is good for the sport, but, as far as coaches are concerned, they would probably rather share the points than lose because of a penalty shoot-out."
Ross is not convinced the possibility of a draw should be removed but, if it is deemed there has to be a winner, then he would prefer overtime and a format where players drop off until a winning goal is scored.
The Southern Men's campaign opens against Canterbury, in Palmerston North on July 30.
The Storm also plays Canterbury that day but will host the fixture. Finals week will be staged at the National Hockey Stadium, in Wellington, from August 6. The men's and women's finals will be played on August 14.
