Some good points here.
Yes, the mid-level teams have the most to lose. I think for a lot of us there are the thoughts of who and where did the idea originate from? And what is the motivation for this sudden change? While clearly peewee A is not AA, there was a very hard fought division with probably 15 teams that deserved to be in that division. I'd make the argument there should have been a play-in playoff with 12 teams making it and the top 4 earning byes.
Certainly, no one ever considered geography in putting this together. Do Nor Cal & So Cal teams really need to travel twice to play each other in the regular season and then a third time in the playoffs?
Does this plan go along with USA Hockey's research that down time and other sports are good for long term development? We all tend to enjoy watching our kid skate but do all us really need to see each other July 4th weekend because we have to be ready for Labor Day?
If the talent level is so deep that two divisions are needed, why isn't there a serious look at how more players can be funneled into Tier 1? There are a dearth of teams at that level.
IMO, much of what we are seeing by the CAHA board is a reaction to things that happened multiple years ago and an overall thought that hockey parents really don't know better, the need for a decision to be made for them.
Panther Coach, we have no real way to communicate with the board and to offer our input. To go to our local club board member, coach or president can be viewed as an afterthought or just another gripe (And hey, no need to rub anyone the wrong way during tryout season
) I actually think the petition is a well thought out way to handle it.