a native of swift current, saskatchewan, mccleary played junior hockey in the western hockey league (whl) with his home-town swift current broncos beginning in 1988. he played a total of four seasons with the broncos, winning the whl championship and memorial cup with the team in 1988–89 though he played only three games with the team. he was a defensive forward in the whl, but scored 50 points in his final year in helping the broncos win a second championship. he added a goal in four games at the 1993 memorial cup.