HALIFAX — A hockey playing opera diva?

Classical soprano Measha Brueggergosman is so excited about this weekend's Juno festivities that she laced up Thursday to practise for a charity game -- even though she's never played hockey.

"It's an unlikely marriage, hockey and opera," Brueggergosman admitted as she prepared for an on-ice workout.

"I speed-skated for 10 years, so I understand the ice but I've never, ever in all my life worn a pair of hockey skates."

Brueggergosman was joined at the Halifax Forum by Blue Rodeo front man Jim Cuddy, Canadian Idol host Ben Mulroney, former NHLer Paul Coffey and goalie Sami Jo Small.

Proceeds from the game, to be played Friday evening, will go to MusiCan, a foundation which helps buy instruments for school music programs.

The Juno awards will be handed out over two nights: Saturday during an industry-only dinner and on Sunday during a televised TV show.

The Fredericton-raised Brueggergosman said she was eager to partake in the various Juno-related activities, including a free street party at the Grand Parade on Thursday night featuring local stars The Trews and Matt Mays.

She had high praise for the host city.

"There's no better place to come in and blend in (with locals) and have a coffee on the street and grab some poutine. I'm hoping to see (Juno host) Pam Anderson at the Liquor Dome (night club)," she said.

The first wave of musicians got into town Thursday, and celebrity spotters were out in force.

One cab driver insisted Anderson had arrived on an Air Canada flight but officials said the bombshell wasn't scheduled to touch down until Saturday.

The show is fast turning into an international spectacle.

Juno broadcaster CTV announced Thursday the show has been picked up by several MTV stations, including ones in the U.S., Italy, Portugal and China. In the U.K., music fans will be able to view the show via VH1.

CTV will package Sunday's two-hour bash, which will feature performances by Coldplay, Bedouin Soundclash, Bryan Adams and Nickelback, for a later airing on the stations.

A star in the world of classical music, Brueggergosman said Juno fever was palpable and heightened by the huge international buzz around Canadian acts.

She said the praise isn't limited to rock acts like Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire.

"It's really a given in the classical market that Canadians are producing some of the very best musicians working right now," she said pointing to artists like cellist Denise Djokic and violinist James Ehnes.

"We're doing all right!"