Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: DeBoer bụ onye 237th drafted site na Toronto Maple Leafs na
1988 NHL Entry Draft. N'oge ahụ, ọ na-egwu egwu na Windsor Spitfires na OHL, na oge kachasị mma ọ na-awakpo, o nwetara ihe mgbaru ọsọ 45 na enyemaka 46 maka isi ihe 91. Mgbe Windsor, DeBoer gara n'ihu na-egwu maka Milwaukee Admirals nke International Hockey League (IHL), na-egwu oge abụọ zuru ezu na ha. N'oge ikpeazụ ya na ndị Admirals, o nyere goolu iri abụọ na asaa na inye aka iri atọ na anọ maka isi iri isii na otu wee laa ezumike nká mgbe oge ahụ gasịrị.