Ka cika wannan jumla: McCauley ya kasance babban tauraron hockey na matasa tare da Ottawa 67's na Ontario Hockey League (OHL). A lokacin da yake da shekaru 16, McCauley ya sami matsayi tare da 67's, kuma ya yi farin ciki da shekaru hudu da suka yi nasara tare da kulob din wanda ya ƙare tare da zama mai suna CHL Player of the Year for 1996<unk>97. Ya kuma kasance na farko Team All-Star a 1996 da 1997 da kuma wakilta Canada a 1996 da 1997 Duniya Junior Ice Hockey Gasar, lashe zinare a lokuta biyu. Kafin wadannan yanayi biyu masu ban mamaki a Ottawa, an zabi McCauley a zagaye na hudu na
1995 NHL Entry Draft, 79th gaba ɗaya ta New Jersey Devils, kodayake ba zai taɓa yin wasa tare da ƙungiyar ba. Brian Kilrea, babban kocin 'yan 67 na tsawon lokaci, ya taba yin wa McCauley babban yabo ta hanyar kiransa mafi kyawun dan wasan da ya taba horarwa.