 He learned to skate at the age of three years old after beating meningitis, which his sister had died from.McCreary competed with the Buffalo Tondas, Windsor Spitfires and the Guelph Holody Platers in the SOJHL from 1973-76.After going undrafted out of junior hockey, he accepted a position at a machine shop and worked side jobs as a referee in local minor hockey games.