Toronto Maple Leafs players among celebs set for 'The Nutcracker' cameos

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with teammate Mitchell Marner after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on November 18, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner are trading in their jerseys for doll costumes in "The Nutcracker."

The two are among the Canadian celebrities set to make cameos as Cannon Dolls in the National Ballet of Canada's production this holiday season.

The ballet company recruits notable personalities every winter to perform the comical roles in each show at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The characters appear onstage as a cannon goes off to begin the battle scene in the first act, which is set in a winter wonderland in 19th-century Russia.

Other notable personalities making guest roles as Cannon Dolls this year include "Come From Away" co-writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein.

The list also includes Max Kerman and Anthony Carone of the rock group Arkells, author Emma Donoghue, Olympic figure skaters Eric Radford and Dylan Moscovitch, design duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, and pastry chef Anna Olson.

Past Cannon Dolls have included Chris Hadfield, Tessa Virtue, Mats Sundin, and Doug Gilmour.