Two local players have made it to the next step in their goal of representing Western Canada at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.

North Battleford’s Kendal Fransoo and Radisson’s Carter Amson are two of the 34 players from Saskatchewan selected to the camp.

The top players from Saskatchewan and Manitoba born in 1996 were at camp Thursday, which includes scrimmage sessions among the four teams, fitness testing, practice and team building. Camp ends Monday.

Amson played with the Saskatoon Blazers last season in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Amson had five goals and seven assists in 43 games along with 52 penalty minutes.

Fransoo had one goal and seven assists as a defenceman in his rookie season with the Notre Dame Hounds last season. Fransoo also had 112 penalty minutes in 41 games last season.

Following the camp this weekend, the players will be evaluated during the first half of the 2012-13 season and a roster will be finalized later in the season. The World Under 17 Hockey Challenge will take place in Victoriaville and Drummondville, Que. from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4.