He played major junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves from 2007 to 2010. The Anaheim Ducks chose him 39th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. They traded him to the Thrashers for Erik Christensen in 2009. O'Dell signed an amateur tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves and played three games for them at the end of the 2009-10 season. In June, 2010, he signed an entry-level contract with the Thrashers.