It was Carl English’s afternoon at Mile One as the St. John’s Edge retired his #23 jersey. English, who played his early basketball at Fatima Academy, went on to enjoy great seasons in pro basketball in north America and Europe before winding up his playing career in St. John’s.

English played his final game with the Edge on May 13th of last year, battling through a torn quadriceps in game three of the NBLC finals against the Moncton Magic.

#23 rises to the rafters and @cenglish23’s jersey has officially been retired by the @stjohnsedge. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/nnIGLaraiK

— Ben Murphy (@VOCMBen) February 23, 2020

It’s that sort of determination in the face of adversity that marked English throughout his career. English says he was faced with “devastating tragedy at an early age” and that basketball is what helped him push through some of the tough periods in his life.

According to English he would often go to great lengths to give himself the opportunity to practice and train as a kid.

After the winter was over he would go around and collect pieces of asphalt that the snow plows had beaten up. He would then use fire in a barrel to melt the asphalt down over the gravel they were playing on. He notes that playing surface was probably worse than what they were playing on initially, but those were the lengths he would go to.

English says the retirement ceremony will be an emotional one.

He calls it bittersweet. It is hard to walk away from something you love and something that molded you into the person you are today. He says this is another way for him to thank the supporters who have been by his side his whole career.

Some of @cenglish23’s speech.

There have been lots of pauses for applause from the crowd.

An emotional speech no doubt. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/NGXvLC2tc3

— Ben Murphy (@VOCMBen) February 23, 2020

It's RETIREMENT DAY…

Check out Carl's top moment with the edge 👇@cenglish23 #DefendTheRock l #UnfinishedBusinesshttps://t.co/xjKS8XRqtZ

— St. John's Edge (@stjohnsedge) February 23, 2020