Clarington Green Gaels putting it all together

CLARINGTON -- To the untrained eye, Zach Palmer is one hot lacrosse player right now.

But to Jason Crosbie, who coaches him and the rest of the Clarington Green Gaels Junior B team, that's just Palmer being Palmer.

The Oshawa resident has been lighting up the Ontario Lacrosse Association so far this season, with a league best 24 points, including 11 goals, in four games.

A dozen of those points came in the past two games, romps of 11-2 over Huntsville last Thursday in Bowmanville and 14-2 in Orillia Sunday, improving the team's record to 4-0.

"It's not that he's hot, he's just a very good player," Crosbie says of Palmer, who joined the Green Gaels last season after not being satisfied with the floor time he was getting in Junior A with the Whitby Warriors.

"The offence sort of revolves around him because he's so smart and so gifted in that way," Crosbie continues. "But he works hard. If you're that smart at this age and this level, then you can do a lot of things. And that's the message I'm trying to get through: be smart."

The team is obviously listening to all that Crosbie is preaching.

Even in the absence of their number one goalie, Zack Higgins, who's expected back from school next week, the Gaels have allowed a paltry 14 goals-against this season.

Both Luke Coote, who picked up a pair of assists in addition to the win Thursday, and Matt Chamois, who had one helper in Sunday's victory, are making a strong case to back up Higgins upon his return.

Crosbie says he'll make that decision in due time. In the meantime, he's enjoying the way the team is playing in front of them.

"The competition's been a little weak, but that's a testament to what we try to stress, defence first," he says. "The offence will come after time, but the defence has to be the first thing to do."

The offence hasn't been too shabby either, even ignoring Palmer's prowess.

Ryan Serville fired home four goals in Sunday's win, while Lucas Perri had a goal and six assists. On Thursday, rookie Chad Tuton scored the game's first two goals unassisted and Curtis Knight added four later in the game.

There's good news on the horizon, too, as Shayne Jackson, Ryan Degerdon and Chris Cudmore, all key veterans, will rejoin the team along with Higgins once their school year is done.

But Crosbie says the team cannot rest on its laurels.

"So far so good, but you never look at your stats and think you're good," he says of the impressive start. "There are always ways to get better."

The Green Gaels host Orillia Thursday, 8 p.m. at the Garnet Rickard Recreation Complex.