It’s something I thought about. The end conclusion is ripping out most of the SMJHL teams and putting them into the new league. If the funnel goes into the mid tier league then the SMJHL truly becomes a junior league. People staying for 2 seasons then going to the mid tier teams for 1 or 2 seasons then up to the SHL. It would solve the problem of needing more positions (as you just move teams to a new tier), With only a couple new positions really needed. (Now do you really need a MSHL HO? And other stuff)

If there is anything truly holding it back it’s actually doing it. SMJHL works. SHL works. Why create a new middle tier. There are pro’s and con’s. The whole SHL infrastructure is built from SMJHL and SHL so instead of changing 1 or 2 things you would have to reinvent the SMJHL and how it operates.