Buuxi weedha soo socota: Red Deer Rebels waxay u doorteen Phaneuf wareegga saddexaad ee 2000 WHL Bantam Draft. Hal sano kadib, wuxuu ku biiray Rebels xilli ciyaareedkii 2001-02 wuxuuna duubay 32 dhibcood 67 kulan. Wuxuu ku daray laba caawin 21 ciyaarood markii ay Rebels ku badiyeen finalka WHL ee Kootenay Ice. Wuxuu hagaajiyay 30 gool iyo 42 dhibcood sanadkii 2002-03 markii Rebels ay mar kale gaareen Finalka WHL, mar kale guuldarro, markan Kelowna Rockets. Horumarka Phaneuf wuxuu ku kasbaday isbarbar dhiga Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, maadaama ay ku ammaaneen indha indheyaashii qaabkiisa jireed iyo awoodiisa inuu ku fiicnaado difaaca iyo weerarka labadaba. Maareeyaha Guud ee Calgary Flames Darryl Sutter ayaa si aad ah u qiimeeyay Phaneuf
2003 NHL Entry Draft oo uu isku dayay inuu ka ganacsado xulashadiisa sagaalaad ee guud ee Draft-ka, inkasta oo aan waxtar lahayn. Si kastaba ha noqotee, wuxuu awooday inuu doorto Phaneuf oo ah xulashada koowaad ee Calgary ee qabashada.