Reid was a junior star for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, but was passed over in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft on account of his size, and was not signed by the New York Rangers after being invited to their training camp that fall. However, he established himself as a legitimate NHL prospect after a superb performance at the 2000 World Junior Championships, where he dazzled with his speed and skill, scoring 9 points in 7 games in helping Canada to a bronze medal. He finished the 1999–2000 season with 124 points in 62 games for Halifax, and helped them reach the Memorial Cup where he was named the tournament's most sportsmanlike player. Following the season, he was selected 208th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.