Drafted by the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League in the 12th round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Chalifoux reported to the Whalers' farm team, the defending Calder Cup champion Springfield Indians. He played the next three seasons for the Indians, serving as the team's third-line center for the first two. In the 1994 season - the final season for the 52-year-old Indians franchise - he was playing much better, scoring over a point a game, when a shoulder injury ended his season after 44 games.