Good post Icadad:
"In my opinion, the CAHA system has artificially limited AAA opportunity, so there are likely more players who would be playing AAA in other markets, that are playing AA in California. One of the reasons I've been hearing recently for the level of churn in the Ducks is the move to Irvine that has made it untenable for some families who can't justify the commute. This reinforces the simple fact that in a state as large as California, with only 3 teams, there are going to be many families who just can't get to one of the 3 AAA rinks."
This is a sound point. My guess is that So. California could handle two to three extra AAA teams at least through Bantam. Moreover, both the Kings and Ducks '05 AAA teams have taken in good AA players to fill out rosters after losing players to prep schools.
Your point about the size of California and the number of AAA teams is well taken. We know two families from S. OC who have commuted to Kings AAA for some years now. Don't know how they can endure it but in both cases, it has paid off in the development of two excellent young players. Got to believe that the cost to academics in high school will be significant although California Connections Academy offers a decent online academic alternative.
"As for Bantam AA this year, the writing was on the wall in the spring when the Saints got to the finals of the AAA division and as I recall were beaten by a Patriots team comprised of AAA Ducks and Kings only after a coming behind late in the 3rd. The Bears is pretty much a new team this season, but the Saints played AAA tournaments last year after CAHA ended and beat a number of mid level AAA teams in the process. It also says something about the level of AA, that this same Saints team, was put in Flight2 last year, and were tied or beaten by other Flight2 teams, which says a lot about the Flighting process in terms of teams that have been denied a chance to play in Flight1 in the 2 years of flighting."
The Saints problem this spring was a combination of arrogance and not taking the Patriots (or the team from Vancouver Island) seriously. This happens with professional teams so not surprising it happens with less mature 13-14 year olds. Their substitution patterns suggested that the coach wanted to win but if the players didn't care so much, any team is vulnerable. The one thing that has distinguished the Kings AA1 (Patriots) coach over several years is that his teams played with great intensity when it mattered. Happened to be outside his locker room after the Patriots lost to the Saints in the prelims this spring and there is no doubt about his intensity. I don't believe that a coach can will be team to "losing is not an option" but Maik might be one of the hockey coaches who could. I write that with a certain degree of admiration.
Not sure why the Saints '05 was dropped to Flight 2 last year. I saw some of their games and the games of all Flight 1 teams and would argue the Saints were better than at least 4 to 6 teams. Maybe they sandbagged the evaluation period or just showed some of the same uneven competitive commitment of this last spring.
The Bears are a new team but as one of their parents told me, Peter recruits kids who are hockey smart and able to pick up his system or style of play quickly. The kids on the team that I know are, indeed, hockey smart.