Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - The Red Deer Rebels vakasarudza Phaneuf munharaunda yechitatu ye2000 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. Mutungamiri mukuru weCalgary Flames panguva iyoyo Darryl Sutter akakoshesa Phaneuf zvakanyanya mu2003 NHL Entry Draft
kuti akaedza kutengesa kubva pakusarudzwa kwake kwechipfumbamwe chose chose muDraft, kunyange zvazvo zvisina maturo. Kunyange zvakadaro, akakwanisa kusarudza Phaneuf nesarudzo yekutanga yeCalgary muhurongwa.