The Canadian pop star - who made her acting debut in CSI: New York in 2007 - will play a crazed hockey fan in Michael McGowan's music-driven drama, reports Canada's CBC News.

"Nelly is an incredible entertainer and, after speaking with her, I realised that she fully relished embracing her inner hockey fanatic," the filmmaker said.

The film about Canada's national pastime, which will start shooting next month, also stars Olivia Newton-John and Marc Jordan as the parents of Nelly's character.