Before CAHA implemented the limit on AAA teams, much of the talk was how "AAA is watered down in California". Lots of folks on this site were complaining that clubs were taking advantage of parents who were willing to pay-for-an-A and the end result was a number of teams that should not be playing at this level. You had real AAA caliber players sprinkled across many different teams and no one single team could compete with the better AAA teams from out of state.
At that point, CAHA could have either:
a. Done nothing
b. Try to implement a system that improves the situation
After years of getting roasted for choosing "a", they decided to try "b". Did they implement a perfect solution? Obviously not, but at least they're trying.
Look at 16AAA last season. 5 teams, of which only 2 ended the season in the top 100 nationally. I could argue that 5 AAA teams is too many. Are there really many more than 40 kids in this state born in 2001 that *should* be playing AAA.
Now - how do you pick which clubs get AAA teams? That's the tough one. If you're trying to build long-term national recognition, then I would think you would want to select clubs that have the highest probability of being around for a long time. Financial stability, name recognition, coaches with last names someone from the east coast would recognize. To me, that sounds like the clubs that have NHL backing. Is that *always* the case across every age group? Nope. But as a "brand", I think you need to have some consistency.
Does this system result in more kids leaving CA? I'm not sure that any more kids would stay if this situation was different. I don't think people are leaving for the sole reason of limited choices. If you live in Bakersfield, and you're kid is a true AAA player - what is more impacting? Driving to LA/OC or having your kid live with a different family across the country? I think people are leaving because they want their kid in a different (hockey) environment altogether.
The problem I *do* have is how some of the clubs allow their AAA teams to be run. Out of state recruiting should not be allowed if CAHA is going to put a hard limit on the number of teams. And you either tighten the PDR rules so that clubs are forced to develop more AA/A players or you eliminate the PDR all together.
Thoughts?