Hockey musical lands TIFF's opening slot

The Toronto International Film Festival will celebrate one of Canada's favourite pastimes at its start this year, with organizers announcing that Score: A Hockey Musical has landed the prestigious opening night gig.

The hockey-themed film, unveiledWednesday morning at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, is a coming-of-age story about a sheltered teen-turned-hockey phenom, portrayed by Noah Reid. It is written and directed by Michael McGowan, the filmmaker behind the dramas One Week and Saint Ralph.

"Score: A Hockey Musical captures key elements of Canadian identity our passion for our national pastime, our unique musical style and our special brand of humour," TIFF director and CEO Piers Handling said in a statement.

"We wanted a film that was fun. We wanted a film that was a little bit lighter than we've had in the last couple of years," co-director Cameron Baileytold CBC News.

"We had Creation and we had Passchendaele. These are serious dramas. We just wanted to go a bit lighter."

The film's cast includes actress and singer Olivia Newton-John and singer-songwriter Marc Jordan, who portray the young hockey star's parents.

Score also features cameos from a long list of prominent Canadian figures, such as Nelly Furtado, Walter Gretzky, Theo Fleury, John McDermott, Evan Solomonand George Stroumboulopoulos.

The soundtrackis also populated by many Canadians, with McGowan penning the lyrics to 19 original songsand contributions by the Barenaked Ladies, Jordan, Amy Sky andHawksley Workman, as well asAussie actress Newton-John.

"I think because we're funded publicly, ...we've got to tell Canadian stories. I'm trying not to sort of hit people over the head with patriotism, but I really do want to get to the core of what it means to be Canadian," McGowan said shortly after the announcement.

The 35th annualToronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 9-19.