He was drafted 52nd overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. However, he never played a game for the Whalers and he was claimed by the new Ottawa Senators in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft. Atcheynum spent most of his professional hockey career playing for the minor leagues. He made his NHL debut with the Senators in the 1992–93 season and played 3 games with them. He spent most of that season playing for the Senators' AHL-affiliate, the New Haven Senators.