Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: The Red Deer Rebels yakasarudza Phaneuf mumutambo wechitatu we2000 WHL Bantam Draft. Gore rimwe gare gare, akabatana neVapanduki kwemwaka wa2001-02 uye akarekodha mapoinzi makumi matatu nemaviri mumitambo makumi matanhatu nenomwe. Akawedzera rubatsiro rwechipiri mumitambo 21 sezvo Vapanduki vakarasikirwa muWHL Final vachipesana neKootenay Ice. Akavandudza kusvika pazvinangwa zve30 uye 42 mapoinzi muna 2002-03 sezvo Vapanduki zvakare vakasvika kuWHL Finals, zvakare vachirasikirwa, panguva ino kuKelowna Rockets. Kubudirira kwaPhaneuf kwakamuita kuti aenzaniswe neHall of Famer Scott Stevens, sezvo akarumbidzwa nevasori nekuda kwechimiro chake chemuviri uye kugona kugona kudzivirira nekurwisa. Ipapo-Calgary Flames maneja mukuru Darryl Sutter akakoshesa Phaneuf zvikuru kwazvo mu
2003 NHL Entry Draft kuti akaedza kutengesa kubva pakusarudzwa kwake kwepfumbamwe pakusarudzwa, kunyange pasina. Kunyange zvakadaro, akakwanisa kusarudza Phaneuf nesarudzo yekutanga yeCalgary muhurongwa.