[5] McCauley won the inaugural Terry Flanagan Memorial Award at the end of his final season in 1993.

[8] While with the AHL, McCauley refereed his first NHL game on January 20, 2003, a 5–1 win to the Columbus Blue Jackets against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.

[5][9][1] After being selected to officiate the AHL's Calder Cup Finals in 2004 and 2005, he was promoted to a full-time NHL referee for the 2005–2006 season.

[10][11] In June 2013, he was selected as part of the officiating team for the NHL's 2013 Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks.

[21] When coming to center ice after penalties or video reviews, he is known for his suspenseful announcements of important results.

[25] McCauley is married with four children and lives in South Portland, Maine, where his wife Bethany grew up.