NEW YORK -- As top Soviet-trained NHL players prepared to leave for a six-game tour of the former Soviet Union Nov. 4-20, the National Hockey League Players' Association announced it will hold a four-team "4 on 4 Challenge'" charity round-robin tournament in Hamilton, Ontario, Nov. 10-12.


Former Devils defenseman Slava Fetisov has organized the team of Soviet-trained NHL players and its tour, which will raise money for Russian youth hockey, is not union-sponsored. Agent Todd Diamond said Fetisov's team will play three games against Moscow-based Dinamo, Spartak and Soviet Wing, and games against Torpedo, Nizhni-Novgorod and Magnitogorsk.


Sources say Vancouver Canucks right wing Pavel Bure, Buffalo Sabres right wing Alexander Mogilny, Detroit Red Wings center Sergei Fedorov and New York Rangers right wing Alexei Kovalev will play for the NHL team.


New Jersey Devils player representative Bruce Driver said the Russian tour and the Ontario games indicate the union's frustration over the league's failure to make a counter-offer to the players' proposal it rejected Oct. 10. The next day, Commissioner Gary Bettman postponed the start of the season indefinitely, resulting in a lockout. No negotiations have taken place since then.


"We're a little frustrated with the situation," Driver said. "The guys want to get playing again. It's a matter of staying in shape, staying on your game."


A spokesman said the NHL would have no comment on the two events.