It is dumb... not sure why CAHA has to restrict AAA teams when there is demand, past success, and current clubs desiring to organize teams, but they do. The harm comes as Hamacher points out... scouts/recruiters/preps don't look at AA kids the same way they look at AAA kids. They trust the system. If a kid plays AA, they assume he wasn't good enough to make AAA. He made this very clear, supported with data. They don't even look at the kid, and kids miss out on opportunities.
This is unnecessary, and for anyone to support the clearly laid out, systematic suppression of AAA hockey in California by CAHA, it's disappointing. These people have an agenda or a very cynical view of the world. Smaller clubs should be afforded the same opportunities as the big ones. And the point of an independent governing body is to create a level playing field for everyone. Not just the wealthy.
Oh, and Bobby... come on, you know these are birth year teams... each age group has 3 teams. Don't be coy.