Now that everyone’s bracket has been crushed, it's time to look forward to what April has to offer in terms of sports. So, let’s count down the top six sporting events to look forward to in the month of April.

6. The Masters

Golfers, this one is for you. The Masters is a cornerstone of American sports and attracts fans greater than the golf community. The Masters is one of the four championships that players can compete in, located in Augusta, Georgia. Last year’s winner, Jordan Speith, is looking to defend his title this year and is arguably the favorite to win again.

5. Boston Marathon

Similar to the Masters, the Boston Marathon is an attraction for fans both apart of, and distant from the running community. The Boston Marathon features Heartbreak Hill which is a stretch of the course around mile twenty of the marathon, where runners begin to pray for strength to finish out the race. Whether you despise running, or you are a professional runner, the Boston Marathon gives fans an opportunity to cheer for the American runners that are competing and dive into the running community.

4. NFL Draft

My personal favorite, the NFL draft is where college athletes will be selected to the pros. This multi-day event is televised and is usually held in New York City. Because Football is so popular in the United States, it has now become common to follow all offseason events including the draft. In fact, there is even an established fan base of college pro days and it seems the fans are trying to become more involved with all matters of their teams. I classify myself as one of those fans and will be thoroughly excited for the start of the NFL draft to see what selections the New England Patriots make, as well as other teams.

3. The Start of Baseball

Baseball, America’s pastime, will truly begin to start up during April. Spring ball is currently underway, and baseball fans are itching to have the season get into full swing. As a Red Sox fan, I am extremely excited to have the season start up to see the results of big free agent signings. Baseball starting again also means the days are going to get warmer and longer. After a long month of March, I think sports fans around the country will accept this with open arms.

2. Playoff Basketball

Playoffs are the best time to be a sports fan. This year’s basketball playoffs will be featuring a historically successful Golden State Warriors team who will be the most favored to win the title. They will most likely have their greatest challenge from the San Antonio Spurs who have also had a phenomenal season. One thing is for sure, though, the NBA playoffs will be filled with great games and matchups.

1. Playoff Hockey

The playoffs in hockey are, in my opinion, the best sporting event to go to as a fan and to watch from home. The tournament features best of a seven-game series in order to advance which not only displays the team's’ depth, but also their talent to win up to 16 games throughout the playoffs. Unlike in football or soccer where one or two games could decide the fate of a team, the seven-game series format requires a coach to use strategies. For example, when to play certain goalies or players and when to rest them. Although one may think that this would distract from the overall quality of play, every game becomes a must-win scenario in order to earn extra rest periods between series. Thus, playoff hockey becomes one of the top sporting events to look forward to in April.