NHL Players to Stage Exhibitions for Charity : Hockey: Gretzky might participate in tournament; others look to Europe.

Eager to keep players active during the lockout--and to polish its image--the NHL Players Assn. will announce today or Thursday that it has arranged a tournament to benefit a major charity.

Plans call for Wayne Gretzky, Sergei Fedorov, Doug Gilmour, Pat LaFontaine, Alexander Mogilny and other standouts to be invited. So far, the NHLPA has booked the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Canada, on Nov. 10 and 12. At least two more games are likely to be staged in other cities.

“We haven’t worked out all the details yet and we’re still discussing different formats,” said Steve McAllister, a spokesman for the NHLPA. “Obviously, there will be some game formats, but there could also be skills contests. There might be four teams playing against each other or perhaps (NHL players) against a team of players from the three junior hockey leagues in Canada.”

Players are also scheduled to participate in a game Sunday in Sarnia, Canada, to benefit a children’s charity.

No negotiations took place Tuesday, the 25th day of the lockout, but sources said talks will resume soon. NHL executives met with referees and linesmen but did not determine whether on-ice officials will be paid throughout the stoppage. Their checks are to stop after 45 days.

The NHLPA prepared to meet with player agents Thursday in Toronto. The session is meant to counteract a package of pro-management documents sent to agents by the NHL.

“I’ve reviewed everything and I see what they’re thinking, but I still strongly support the union,” said Ron Salcer, a prominent agent.

Salcer said he doesn’t expect agents to take an active role in helping settle the dispute, as they did in the 10-day player strike in 1992.

The procession of players going to Europe shows no sign of stopping, and other options might soon be available to them. Swedish Elite League teams, which last Saturday voted to oppose signing NHL players to short-term deals during the lockout, are asking to reconsider the decision. About a dozen Swedish-born NHL players want to play in their homeland.

In the meantime, Washington defenseman Calle Johansson signed with Kloten of the Swiss League, Calgary forward Mikael Nylander agreed to play for Jyvaskyla in Finland, Calgary’s Robert Reichel and Boston’s Jozef Stumpel went to Germany, Hartford defenseman Frank Kucera has gone to the Czech Republic and Whaler left wing Andrei Nikolishin arranged to play for Moscow Dynamo in his native Russia. New York Ranger defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev has also joined Moscow Dynamo, where he spent five seasons.

Ranger forward Alexei Kovalev is touring with the Russian team Lada Togliatti, which is playing a series of games against International Hockey League teams. A group of Russian players is planning a five-game tournament in Moscow beginning Nov. 4 to benefit minor hockey in their country.

Closer to home, San Jose Shark right wing Jeff Odgers said he will file for unemployment benefits this week. Mighty Duck Don McSween last week became the first NHL player known to take advantage of a California law that allows locked-out employees to apply for benefits.

Odgers, 25, made $225,000 last season and was to make the same amount this season. Odgers, married with one child, is eligible for a maximum of $230 per week for 26 weeks.

Times staff writer Lisa Dillman contributed to this story.