Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Red Deer Rebels họpụtara Phaneuf na agba nke atọ nke WHL Bantam Draft 2000. Otu afọ mgbe e mesịrị, ọ sonyeere ndị nnupụisi maka oge 2001-02 wee dekọọ ihe 32 na egwuregwu 67. Ọ gbakwunyere enyemaka abụọ na egwuregwu 21 ka ndị nnupụisi meriri na WHL Final megide Kootenay Ice. O mere nke ọma ruo ihe mgbaru ọsọ 30 na isi 42 na 2002/03 ka ndị nnupụisi ahụ rutere WHL Finals, ọzọ na-efunahụ, oge a na Kelowna Rockets. Mmepe nke Phaneuf mere ka e jiri ya tụnyere Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, dịka ndị scouts toro ya maka ụdị ahụ ya na ikike ya ịka mma ma na-agbachitere ma na-awakpo. Mgbe ahụ-Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter jiri Phaneuf kpọrọ ihe nke ukwuu
2003 NHL Entry Draft na ọ gbalịrị ịzụ ahịa site na nhọrọ nke itoolu ya na Draft, ọ bụ ezie na ọ nweghị uru. N'agbanyeghị nke ahụ, ọ nwere ike ịhọrọ Phaneuf na nhọrọ mbụ nke Calgary na draft.