Boston College Athletics
Carroll McCaffrey Willa Inducted into Beanpot Hall of Fame
February 14, 2012 | Women's Hockey
Feb. 7, 2012
BOSTON - Boston College women's ice hockey great Carroll McCaffrey Willa was inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame at the conclusion of the tournament's 34th rendition on Feb. 7 in Walter Brown Arena.
The former the Eagles captain donned the Maroon and Gold from 1995 to 1999, accumulating 13 goals and 62 assists. Willa concluded her career ranked fifth in career scoring with 75 points, a mark that still stands as the second most ever by a BC defenseman. The 62 helpers remain as the standard for Eagle back-liners and are fifth most by any player to call Kelley Rink home ice.
"It's an honor to be inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame," Willa stated. "It's exciting to see that women's hockey is being promoted and that, as the sport grows, Boston College continues to support it. There are many more colleges and universities that have women's hockey now. BC made a commitment to move from club to the varsity level the year before I got there and they've done a great job."
Willa was instrumental in that transition from club to varsity. Regarded for her stellar puck-handling and vicious slap shot, the New Canaan, Conn. native skated an average of 50 minutes each game and did not miss a contest throughout the duration of her career.
In the Beanpot, Willa netted two goals, three assists and led Boston College to a pair of championship appearances. As a freshman in 1996, the Eagles reached the final for the first time in 11 years, but fell to Northeastern in overtime, 4-3. The following year, Willa registered the first and game-winning goal of a 9-0 rout over Boston University in the second game. As a junior, the defenseman produced one goal and assisted another in a 6-4 loss to Harvard in the opening round and returned to add one assist in the 11-3 defeat of BU. Boston College returned to the championship in 1999, as Willa recorded her final point with a helper in the first round win over BU, 9-1. However, the Eagles were denied the Beanpot once again, this time by Harvard, 9-0.
"The Beanpot really involved the community, which was nice," Willa recalled, "and was tournament play, before we had a tournament. It's exciting to see everyone involved in something that is special to the Boston area. There are no other tournaments like it in the women's hockey arena, much like the men's, so it is nice to have something special that sets them apart from everyone else. When we were there, BU was still a club team. It's nice to see all four of the Boston area teams really competing for the title."
Willa graduated from Boston College in 1999 as a double-major in english and education. Willa currently holds the position of Elementary School Principal within the Woburn Public School District.
BC Beanpot Hall of Famers
Erin Magee VanDuzer (2008)
Laura Traynham Hannon (2009)
Jennifer Buckley (2010)
Lisa Davis (2011)
Caroll McCaffrey Willa (2012)
