Tom King

Tuesday is the day many wait for as the first visible light at a long, cold, snowy tunnel: March 1.

It will come in like a cold lion, but that doesn’t mean it won’t go out like a lamb. There is the Madness, but there is also a little sadness that most high school basketball teams (except those in Division IV) won’t experience it as they had their finals last week (Divisions I and II) or are having them this weekend (Division III).

That will likely change next year, but for now, there’s still high school hockey, college events, important NFL dates, etc. to give you a peek at the calendar with these interesting dates, your monthly planner:

TUESDAY, MARCH 1

The NFL Scouting Combine begins in Indianapolis, the league’s annual cattle call which also doubles as an unofficial gathering of general managers and agents laying the groundwork for free agent signings, draft day deals, etc. The NFL loosened COVID requirements after the complaints of players and agents.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2

The NHIAA Division I and III boys preliminary rounds (D II just has eight teams so it goes right to the quarters). Will Bishop Guertin be playing or be able to avoid the first round with a bye?

It may come down to this current weekend’s game (Saturday night) vs. Trinithy at Manchester’s JFK Coliseum.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4

The NHIAA girls hockey quarterfinals will be taking place, and Bishop Guertin, with a first-round bye, will be in action at Hudson’s Cyclones Arena against an undetermined opponent to begin its state title defense. Hanover, which beat BG 5-1 during the season, is the favorite, but Oyster River-Portsmouth is also a solid contender.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

Quarterfinal day for NHIAA boys hockey, all divisions. Under the old format this was a crazy day because it was also a quarters day for local hoop, too, but that frenzy isn’t around this year. Merrimack and BG will be in action, as will Hollis Brookline-Derryfield. In fact, the Warriors already know they’ll have a first round bye with home ice and have their game time all set, 5 p.m. at Conway Arena. They just need to know who they’ll play.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

It’s Opening Day. No, no, not for MLB spring training (as of this writing, anyway),but for Rivier University baseball and softball. The Raiders are south for spring break and the Riv baseball team is taking on Fredonia University at the Polo Grounds at Myrtle Beach, S.C. It’s spring break and the Raiders will be there all week for games. The complex, which also had an Ebbets Field, is at 3051 Ripken Way, if you’re in the vicinity and want to check out a college game.

As for softball, the Raider women will be playing familiar GNAC opponent Saint Joseph’s of Maine at Sleepy Hollow Field in Leesburg, Fla. They’ll play RPI in a second game and will have a total of 10 games in the Florida sun, the last being March 11, and then not play again until March 26.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

It’s a good bet the BG girls hockey team will be in the state semis this night at Concord’s Everett Arena.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9

Another big hockey night, with the boys semis in Divisions I (JFK in Manchester) II (Everett) and III (Plymouth State). BG and Merrimack will need to record tourney upsets to make them, but the Warriors will need to avoid an upset and should be making the drive up to Plymouth.

They’re having the best season of any local boys hockey team by far, and are hungry to get back to the finals.

Also, this will be the day for the Rivier men’s lacrosse home opener at Merrill Field up on the hill, 4 p.m. vs. Casleton. The snow will be cleared says ahead of time, fear not. The women will have their home opener the next day, March 10, vs. Thomas College of Maine at 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

This is the final day of the NHIAA winter season, now that basketball was moved. It’s hockey championship day, back at what used to be the VW but is now SNHU Arena in Manchester. Locally, who could be there? The two biggest possibilities now are the BG girls in the 10 a.m.and HBDS in the 12:15 Division III game. Division II is at 2:45 and Division I at 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

Bracket Day, or as it is more well-known as, Selection Sunday. The NCAA men’s basketball tourney’s 68 team field and regional brackets will be announced late in the day.

Let the Madness begin, with the First Four Tuesday-Wednesday, March 15-16, and first round games March 17-18. We’ll list those dates here.

MONDAY, MARCH 14

The bell rings on NFL free agency. This is when agents and players can begin negotiating, basically called the “legal tampering period.” But really, deals are struck within minutes of the 12 p.m. start that day.

Remember last year when your New England Patriots went on their famous record shopping spree? That won’t happen this year, but they may sign a couple of lower tier free agents later in the week to much cheaper deals. Old friend Chandler Jones (Arizona) and Green Bay receiver Davante Adams are two of the bigger names on the market right now.

The Patriots have several due to be free agents, the biggest ones – as of this writing – are cornerback J.C. Jackson, safety Devin McCourty, linebacker Dont’a Hightower (second time for him) and OL Trent Brown.

MONDAY, MARCH 21

Puckheads will be on red alert, it’s NHL Trade Deadline Day. Will the Bruins, who will be an underdog in the Stanley Cup Playoffs but likely a tough out as well, make a deal for defensive depth or more offense? They’ll do something, either on it or just before. Remember, last year just before this day it brought them Taylor Hall.

Also, it’s the first day of practices for high school spring sports: boys and girls tennis, boys and girls lacrosse, softball, baseball and boys and girls outdoor track. Let’s hope everyone can get outdoor time as soon as possible.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

Opening Day, this one the biggie for Major League Baseball. The Sawx are set to open at Fenway vs. Tampa Bay.

Not going to happen, folks, at least we don’t think so. By the way, players union activist Max Scherzer pulled up into the parking lot for labor talks in Florida in a Porsche.

Life’s tough, you know?

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.