Buuxi weedha soo socota: Zajac wuxuu bilaabay xirfadiisa ciyaaraha barafka ee yar yar ee Salmon Arm Silverbacks ee British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Mid ka mid ah asxaabtiisu waxay ahayd Brady Murray, oo si kooban ugu ciyaari lahaa NHL Los Angeles Kings, iyo linemate-kiisa wuxuu ahaa garabka Calgary Flames mustaqbalka Kris Chucko. Xilli ciyaareedkiisii labaad ee kooxda Salmon Arm, Zajac wuxuu kooxda ku hogaamiyay goolasha, caawinta iyo dhibcaha, wuxuuna kaalinta labaad ka galay guud ahaan horyaalka labada tirakoob ee dambe. Dhamaadkii xilli ciyaareedkii, waxaa loo magacaabay MVP qaybta gudaha ee BCHL, wuxuuna ka ciyaaray BCHL All-Star Game. Ciyaartiisa ayaa soo jiidatay dareenka, waxaana loo saadaaliyay inuu noqon karo doorashada wareega koowaad ee doorashada NHL ee 2004. Saadaashu waxay cadeysay inay sax tahay, maadaama New Jersey Devils ay ku qaadan lahaayeen isaga oo leh xulashada 20aad ee guud. The Devils waxay ku beddeleen inay helaan Zajac, taas oo "macnaheedu yahay wax badan" isaga, laakiin ma ahayn wax la yaab leh, maadaama Devils ay isaga indha indheeyeen in ka badan koox kasta oo kale. Zajac wuxuu doorbiday inuu u ciyaaro kubadda koleyga kulliyadda ee Jaamacadda North Dakota halkii uu ka ciyaari lahaa hockey-ka weyn ee Junior ee Horyaalka Hockey-ka Kanada (CHL), maadaama uu doonayay waxbarasho marka lagu daro ciyaarista hockey. Maareeyaha guud ee kooxda Devils Lou Lamoriello ayaa sheegay in ay jiri doonto meel loogu talagalay Zajac ee North Dakota sababtoo ah Devils ayaa dib u soo celinaya Zach Parise,
sanadkii hore, si aan ugu ciyaaro hockey xirfadeed.