The NCAA champions have been crowned and we're a few weeks into the junior playoffs now, so the list of prospects still playing at the amateur level is getting very, very short. Here's an update.

• C Angelo Esposito, Quebec Remparts. Quebec lost 4-1 to Gatineau 3-0 in the second round of the QMJHL playoffs. Esposito had 4 goals and 6 assists in 11 games and was -11.
• LW Michael Forney, North Dakota. The Fighting Sioux got thumped 7-3 by Boston College in the Frozen Four on April 10, ending their season.
• C Riley Holzapfel, Moose Jaw Warriors. Moose Jaw fell to Calgary 4-2 in the opening round of the WHL playoffs and Holzapfel has joined the Chicago Wolves.
• C Rylan Kaip, North Dakota. The Fighting Sioux got thumped 7-3 by Boston College in the Frozen Four on April 10, ending their season.
• RW Andrew Kozek, North Dakota. The Fighting Sioux got thumped 7-3 by Boston College in the Frozen Four on April 10, ending their season.
• RW Spencer Machacek, Vancouver Giants. Vancouver fell 4-2 to Spokane in the second round of the WHL playoffs. Machacek has 5 goals and 2 assists in 10 games. Machecek has joined the Wolves as an extra forward for the AHL playoffs.
• D Will O'Neill, Omaha (USHL). Omaha leads Sioux city 2-1 in the opening round of the playoffs.
• D Paul Postma, Calgary Hitmen. Postma continues to be the most pleasant surprise of the postseason, piling up 6 goals and 4 assists in 12 games. Fantastic numbers for a 7th round pick who is only in his second year of junior. Calgary plays Lethbridge in the WHL semi-final.

the Gladiators have advanced to the second round of the ECHL playoffs and kick off their series against the Carolina Stingrays tomorrow night in North Charleston. The Wolves lost their first playoff game, falling to Milwaukee 4-3 in overtime with Little, Sterling and Jesse Schultz scoring for Chicago. The AHL doesn't have a roster limit, so it's not unusual for the Wolves to carry some extra players to help out in practices and fill in if needed. Those players are frequently junior players signed to ATO's (Amateur Tryout Offers) after they get eliminated from their playoffs. Bryan Little did it last year and it helped him get a jumpstart on his pro career. Right now the Thrashers have four prospects on ATO's in Chicago- Arturs Kulda, Riley Holzapfel, Angelo Esposito and Spencer Machacek (who just signed his ATO yesterday and is in transit). None of them played last night, and that's not unusual given that the Wolves have been very successful with the lineup they've been using all season. The amateur guys are there to practice, learn about life as a pro, and be ready to jump in if needed, and they understand where they fit into the scheme of things, as is clear from this snippet from the Vancouver Province: