It’s been sort of a start and stop first season in the National Basketball League of Canada for the St. John’s Edge, who have had busy stretches of games compacted into short periods of time and long periods of no games at all.
Take the month that ends today.
The Edge’s first game of the new year came on Jan. 9, a full 23 days after their last outing, on Dec. 17. That first contest in January started a skein of nine games in 13 days, including a five-game road trip played out over six days.
But despite that hectic schedule — and the travel involved — St. John’s went 6-3 in those nine games. And they did so despite missing Carl English the last half-dozen contests after the team’s leading scorer suffered a broken nose and other injuries in a Jan. 12 home-court win over the K-W Titans.
The Edge have had 10 days to contemplate their success. The last time they played was Jan. 21, when they defeated the Niagara River Lions 122-104 in St. Catharines, Ont.
Despite having not played in a week-and-a-half, the Edge (14-7) enter Thursday still tied with the London Lightning for the most victories and best winning percentage in the NBLC.
The Edge’s latest hiatus ends this weekend — St. John’s is back in action Friday and Saturday nights at Mile One Centre, where it will take on the Moncton Magic.
English is ready to return to action Friday, when the latest additions to the St. John’s roster — guard Coron Williams and forward Russell Byrd — will be set to make their Mile One debuts.
Byrd was acquired from the Titans in Jan. 18 in a trade that sent a draft pick the other way (St. John’s dealt forward Jarion Henry to the Island Storm in a corresponding move) while Williams was signed Jan. 15 after the Edge released point guard Rashaun Broadus.
