Blair Atcheynum

Lore & Background

Atcheynum's junior career was marked by a mid-season trade from Saskatoon to Swift Current after requesting more playing time. He joined the Broncos shortly after the bus crash that killed four players, playing in their first game after the incident. He was later traded to Moose Jaw in a deal for Tim Logan that was widely regarded as one of the worst in Broncos coach Graham James' career. At Moose Jaw, Atcheynum broke out under coach Jim Harrison, scoring 32 goals in 1987–88. In his final junior season, he netted 70 goals and 138 points in 71 games, setting a franchise record for most goals in a season, and was named WHL East Division Player of the Year and awarded the Brad Hornung Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player.

Professionally, Atcheynum spent his first three seasons in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup with Springfield in 1991. He was selected by Ottawa in the 1992 expansion draft and made his NHL debut the following season. After five more years in the minors, he won a second Calder Cup with Hershey in 1997 before breaking into the NHL regularly with St. Louis in 1997–98. He later played for Nashville and Chicago before finishing his career in the minors.

Reader's Guide

Blair Atcheynum's career illustrates the path of a player who excelled in junior hockey and the minor leagues but found only intermittent NHL success. His 70-goal, 138-point season with Moose Jaw in 1988–89 remains a standout achievement, earning him WHL First All-Star Team honors and the Brad Hornung Trophy. Despite being a third-round draft pick, he never played for the team that drafted him, Hartford, instead making his NHL debut with the expansion Ottawa Senators. His two Calder Cup championships—with Springfield in 1991 and Hershey in 1997—highlight his impact at the AHL level. Atcheynum's NHL career spanned parts of six seasons with four teams, totaling 119 games. After retiring, he supported the Aboriginal Role Model Hockey School in Saskatoon and served as an assistant coach with the Battlefords North Stars of the SJHL. His legacy includes being one of the few players of Cree descent to reach the NHL and a notable figure in Saskatchewan hockey.

Did You Know?

• Atcheynum set the Moose Jaw Warriors franchise record for most goals in a season with 70 in 1988–89.
• He won the Brad Hornung Trophy as the WHL's most sportsmanlike player in 1989.
• He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 1992 NHL expansion draft.
• Atcheynum won the Calder Cup twice: with the Springfield Indians in 1991 and the Hershey Bears in 1997.