Prior to turning professional, Fairchild attended the University of Minnesota where he was the top scoring defenseman with the Minnesota Golden Gophers men"s ice hockey team which competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association"s Division I in the WCHA conference.
He is currently playing for Russian club, Metallurg Novokuznetsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected by the Saint Louis Blues in the 4th round (96th overall) of the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft. On March 18, 2011, Fairchild was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Saint Louis Blues.
On November 29, 2011, Fairchild made his National Hockey League debut playing 14 shifts in the Blues" 2-1 victory over the home team Washington Capitals.
Five days after his National Hockey League debut, Fairchild was returned to the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 2012, Fairchild was named an AHL All-Star, and also named to the AHL All Rookie Team.
He was recalled 4 times to Saint Louis and played 5 games, tallying 1 assistant During the 2013-2014 season, having had his season hampered by injury and his development stagnating within the Blues organization, on March 12, 2014 Fairchild was traded by Saint Louis to the Phoenix Coyotes and assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates.
Fairchild was not re-signed by the Coyotes, and on July 8, 2014, he agreed to a one-year with Russian club, Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL.
He was also a member of the United States of America U-18 team at the 2007 IIHF U-18 World Championship, where he led all defensemen in points.
