any new program has gaps. cesa is just starting out in the ecnl, and will have to build a program that consistently delivers quality "a" level teams. it would be interesting though to see how the top teams in sc would do in ecnl competition.
and i believe that someone said in the thread, coaches don't go to see teams, they go to see players. so if a top level player is on a low level team, that player will get seen in the ecnl.