Well known for his 10 years of work as a referee in the National Hockey League beginning in 1970, McCauley was also a big name in Lacrosse circles in southern Ontario.

The Brampton native became the NHL’s assistant director of officiating

in 1981 after retiring from on-ice duties due to an eye injury, having officiated many memorable Stanley Cup contests. McCauley died from complications following surgery in June of 1989 at the age of 44 while still serving as the league’s Director of Officiating. Among rule changes he helped institute was the delayed offside non-call to help speed up the pace of the game.

On the lacrosse floor, ‘Gus’ McCauley coached Brampton’s Mann Cup National Champion squad in 1980 and oversaw Canada’s winning entry at the World Field Lacrosse Championships in 1978. A huge men’s recreational tournament is held in his memory each spring in Brampton.

John McCauley is a member of the Brampton Sports Hall Of Fame, The Ontario Lacrosse Hall Of Fame and in November 2011, Was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall Of Fame.