MONTREAL – Although he is known to the public as a talented NHL veteran in the offensive zone and faceoff circle, Sean Monahan apparently has even more hidden tricks up his sleeve.

During his youth, which he spent in Brampton, Ontario, the now 29-year-old forward played Canada's two national sports – hockey and lacrosse – and although fate led him to a professional career on ice, he was quite good at both.

With the National Lacrosse League (NLL) planning a visit to Place Bell on February 16 as part of its new UnBOXed™ series, we sat down with Monahan to learn more about his love the other Sports.

Why lacrosse? What motivated you to pursue this sport?

Sean Monahan: My whole family played it, so I kind of grew up in that environment. I actually started playing lacrosse before hockey, so that was my first love of the sport.

It is quite common for ice hockey players to have played lacrosse. John Tavares has already mentioned that the skills he developed in this sport later served him well in ice hockey. Is that the case with you too?

SM: I would say yes. There's a lot of timing, hand-eye coordination, absorbing checks, and a lot of pick and rolls in lacrosse, so I think that definitely helps me find the right spots. Openings in hockey.

The NLL is coming to Laval in February. How would you convince someone who doesn't know anything about it to attend a lacrosse game?

SM: At first it is very difficult to follow. The ball moves fast, there is the offense, the defense, the music plays; It's an exciting atmosphere. It's a lot of fun to be there.

Do you think you would still be good at it?

SM: I think so. I still have fun with a ball in the summer and I have a lot of close friends who play in the National Lacrosse League so I think I could keep up.