Capitalism, you could say, has won again.
I don’t mean the political, theoretical, economical, or whatever-cal sense, but an old-fashioned Mexico verus North Korea 9-2 blowout, highlighting a hat trick from Golden Bears’ Alonso Tapia Ruiz.
Eight goals, four assists, and 12 points in five games to be exact. His best since joining the Bears two years ago, just not with the Bears.
OK, let’s get this straight.
Technically, Mexico is a mixed market economy.
But if you’re here for hockey, Tapia Ruiz spent his summer away from Clare Drake Arena competing in the IIHF World Championship Division III Group B tournament for the Mexican National Team.
Who?
If it’s not Canada, the World Juniors, NHL, or Olympics, those North of the boarder might not pay as close attention.
We’re all guilty of it.
Some will recognize the World Championship — an extension of the tournament Tapia Ruiz just won — as the tournament where all players give their collective “oohs” and “ahhs” at the chance to represent their home country. Much like we see with NHLers.
Anything close to that should do the trick.
Right?
“I’ve always considered myself an underdog, and when I was selected to play for my country, that moment was the culmination of my career,” added Tapia Ruiz last year in his second season with the men’s National Team.
That year was somewhere in the mushy middle of Tapia Ruizs’ career with the National team. Right under this past season, and right above his first which could only be described as not going so great.
Mexico was competing in the Division II Group B tournament and got smoke-showed by a United Arab Emirates roster loaded with former KHL player. Hey, anyones fair.
It just doesn’t feel that way.
“Losing every game in the tournament was devastating, especially because it felt like we let down our country.”
It pushed them down to Division III Group A in 2024, Division III Group B in 2025, and now because of their gold medal, Division III Group A in 2026.
The boys are moving up in life and so is Tapia Ruiz.
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