EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens will play an outdoor game at Commonwealth Stadium in November that could draw more than 55,000 fans.

"The NHL has approved it," Oilers president Patrick LaForge told the Edmonton Journal, saying he had spoken with Bob Goodenow, head of the Players' Association. "He's cool. There's no hurdle there that hasn't been handled."

The Oilers officially made the announcement during a news conference at the stadium Tuesday. The game will be part of the team's 25th anniversary celebrations.

An afternoon old-timers' game that will likely feature Wayne Gretzky is also on the schedule. Gretzky had said in the past he wasn't interested in suiting up in old-timers' games but when former teammate Kevin Lowe, now the general manager of the Oilers, came calling Gretzky couldn't say no.

The idea for the novel game took root after Michigan State and the University of Michigan drew 74,554 spectators to Spartan football stadium on Oct. 6, 2001.