Blair Atcheynum
Encyclopedia
Blair Atcheynum is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
right winger
. Atcheynum is of Cree First Nation descent.
in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
after scoring 70 goals in 71 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors
of the Western Hockey League
during the 1988–89 season. He never reached the NHL
with the Whalers and was later claimed by the new Ottawa Senators
in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
.
He spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues but was able to break into the NHL for a total of 196 games over four seasons. He got his first taste of the NHL during the 1992–93 NHL season when he played four games for the Ottawa Senators
, although he spent the majority of the season with their farm team
, the New Haven Senators
of the American Hockey League
. It would take another four years to make it as a regular in the NHL. He played in 61 games (scoring a respectable 11 goals and 15 assists) during the 1997–98 NHL season for the St. Louis Blues
after signing with the team as a free agent. With St. Louis, Atcheynum would typically play on a line with Craig Conroy
and Scott Pellerin
that was fondly referred to as the "CPA Line". Blues general manager Larry Pleau
was impressed by Atcheynum's hard work, saying "Blair's not a player in the bottom third of our roster. He's one of our first nine forwards. He can move up to the first or second line without missing a step if we need him".
The next year he was selected in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft
by the newly-formed Nashville Predators
. He played 53 games with the Predators before being traded back to St. Louis for a sixth-round draft pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft
. In 1999 he was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks
, with whom he played 66 games between 1999 and 2001. Atcheynum retired as a professional hockey player in 2001.
Atcheynum is currently an assistant coach with the Battlefords North Stars
of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. Atcheynum is of Cree First Nation descent.
Playing career
Atcheynum was selected in the third round, 52nd overall, by the Hartford WhalersHartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
after scoring 70 goals in 71 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at Mosaic Place. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1983–84 season, where they had previously been named the...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
during the 1988–89 season. He never reached the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Whalers and was later claimed by the new Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
1992 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1992 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 18, 1992. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1992–93 season, the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Rules:...
.
He spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues but was able to break into the NHL for a total of 196 games over four seasons. He got his first taste of the NHL during the 1992–93 NHL season when he played four games for the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, although he spent the majority of the season with their farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
, the New Haven Senators
New Haven Senators
The New Haven Senators are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League During The 1992–93 AHL season. The team played their home games at the New Haven Coliseum. The Senators were known as the New Haven Nighthawks. from 1972 to 1992...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. It would take another four years to make it as a regular in the NHL. He played in 61 games (scoring a respectable 11 goals and 15 assists) during the 1997–98 NHL season for the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
after signing with the team as a free agent. With St. Louis, Atcheynum would typically play on a line with Craig Conroy
Craig Conroy
Craig Conroy is an American former professional ice hockey player and currently the Special Assistant to the General Manager of the Calgary Flames. A sixth round selection of the Montreal Canadiens at the 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Conroy played 1,009 NHL games for the Canadiens, St...
and Scott Pellerin
Scott Pellerin
Scott Pellerin is a retired professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League between 1992 and 2004....
that was fondly referred to as the "CPA Line". Blues general manager Larry Pleau
Larry Pleau
Lawrence Winslow Pleau is former senior vice president and General Manager of the St. Louis Blues. He is also a former NHL player and head coach.-High school and junior career:...
was impressed by Atcheynum's hard work, saying "Blair's not a player in the bottom third of our roster. He's one of our first nine forwards. He can move up to the first or second line without missing a step if we need him".
The next year he was selected in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft
1998 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1998 NHL Expansion Draft was held in on June 26, 1998. The draft took place to fill the roster of the league's expansion team for the 1998–99 season, the Nashville Predators.-Rules:...
by the newly-formed Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He played 53 games with the Predators before being traded back to St. Louis for a sixth-round draft pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft
2000 NHL Entry Draft
The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...
. In 1999 he was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, with whom he played 66 games between 1999 and 2001. Atcheynum retired as a professional hockey player in 2001.
Atcheynum is currently an assistant coach with the Battlefords North Stars
Battlefords North Stars
The Battlefords North Stars are a Junior "A" team based in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. They play in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League...
of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1985–86 | Battlefords North Stars Battlefords North Stars The Battlefords North Stars are a Junior "A" team based in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. They play in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League... |
SJHL Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences... |
33 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 41 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 1985–86 1985-86 WHL season The 1985–86 WHL season was the 20th season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Kamloops Blazers won the President's Cup.-League notes:*The Kelowna Wings relocated to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Chiefs.... |
Saskatoon Blades Saskatoon Blades The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 1986-87 WHL season The 1986–87 WHL season was the 21st season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup before going on to also capture the Memorial Cup.-League notes:... |
Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 21 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Swift Current Broncos Swift Current Broncos The Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos... |
WHL | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Warriors The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at Mosaic Place. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1983–84 season, where they had previously been named the... |
WHL | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 1987-88 WHL season The 1987–88 WHL season was the 22nd season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won their second consecutive President's Cup and Memorial Cup.-League notes:... |
Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 60 | 32 | 16 | 48 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 1988-89 WHL season The 1988–89 WHL season was the 23rd season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Swift Current Broncos won the President's Cup before going on to win the Memorial Cup.- League notes :... |
Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 71 | 70 | 68 | 138 | 70 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 13 | ||
| 1989–90 1989–90 AHL season The 1989–90 AHL season was the 54th season of the American Hockey League.Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Canadiens repeated finishing first overall in the regular season... |
Binghamton Whalers Binghamton Whalers The Binghamton Whalers was an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. It played in Binghamton, New York, USA, at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
78 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 1990–91 AHL season The 1990–91 AHL season was the 55th season of the American Hockey League. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Springfield Indians Springfield Indians The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with... |
AHL | 72 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 42 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1991–92 1991–92 AHL season The 1991–92 AHL season was the 56th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns from divisions into three divisions, creating the new Atlantic division. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Fredericton Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
Springfield Indians | AHL | 62 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 64 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... |
New Haven Senators New Haven Senators The New Haven Senators are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League During The 1992–93 AHL season. The team played their home games at the New Haven Coliseum. The Senators were known as the New Haven Nighthawks. from 1972 to 1992... |
AHL | 51 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 1993–94 ECHL season The 1993-94 ECHL season was the sixth season of the ECHL. In 1993, the league saw the Roanoke Valley Rampage move to Huntsville, AL becoming the Huntsville Blast, as well as an expansion to three new markets: Charlotte, NC, North Charleston, SC, and Huntington, WV and returned to the Roanoke... |
Columbus Chill Columbus Chill The Columbus Chill was a professional ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from October 1991 through the 1998-99 season. They played at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum in Columbus, Ohio. The Chill left Columbus in 1999 and relocated to Reading, Pennsylvania... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
16 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 1993–94 AHL season The 1993–94 AHL season was the 58th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The St. John's Maple Leafs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Portland Pirates Portland Pirates The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the... |
AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 40 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | Minnesota Moose Minnesota Moose The Minnesota Moose was an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, at the Saint Paul Civic Center. The team also played some home games at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Moose were a representative of professional hockey in Minnesota at... |
IHL | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 AHL season The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule... |
Worcester IceCats Worcester IceCats The Worcester IceCats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA at the Worcester Centrum... |
AHL | 55 | 17 | 29 | 46 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Cape Breton Oilers Cape Breton Oilers The Cape Breton Oilers were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team relocated from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1988 and was renamed for Cape Breton Island. Home games were played in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Centre 200... |
AHL | 79 | 30 | 42 | 72 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
AHL | 77 | 42 | 45 | 87 | 57 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 6 | ||
| 1997–98 | St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade... |
NHL | 61 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 53 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1999–00 | Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL | 47 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Chicago Wolves Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois... |
IHL | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Norfolk Admirals Norfolk Admirals The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.-History:... |
AHL | 37 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2000–01 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 196 | 27 | 33 | 60 | 36 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||||