Calgary, AB CAN, WPH Press, 1/25/26
The University of Calgary Recreation Center and tournament director Guy Martin proudly played host to the 2026 Alberta Open 4-Wall Handball Championships, featuring men’s, women’s, and junior small ball singles and doubles.
Men’s Open Singles
Patrick Shearer won the last two editions of the Alberta Open 4-Wall Handball Championships and aimed to three-peat in Stampede City.
Shearer was dominant en route to his third straight Alberta final, dropping just ten points in his two upper bracket matches.
Shane Vigen met Shearer in the Alberta final for the third straight year, dropping Adam Gareau and Alex Macdonald to advance in the bottom bracket.
Vigen denied Shearer his three-peat in “Wild Rose Country,” winning two close games in the final to add his name to the prestigious wall of champions in Alberta.
“It was really strategic,” Vigen would tell the WPH. “My left was weak from a small injury, so the focus was playing at a slower pace with deep court balls and smart pass shots, pouncing on kills when the chance was there. I had him 11-3 in the second but almost blew it as he sped up the pace and my game plan faltered. Very satisfying, all in all.
Semifinals
Shearer def Zhou 15-0, 15-1
Vigen def Macdonald 15-9, 15-12
Final: Vigen def Shearer 15-13, 15-14
JR WPH Clinic at the 2026 Alberta Open 4-Wall Handball Championships
Canadian handball star Shane Vigen enthusiastically coached a JR WPH clinic at the 2026 Alberta Open 4-Wall Handball Championships, not only winning the event but inspiring the next generation of players.
Coach Vigen focused on technique and hitting percentages, explaining not only the proper way to hit the ball with both hands, but what shot to hit in various situations.
“I asked the players to hit the ball with awful form, then good form, then pointed out the obvious,” Coach Vigen would later say. “Then we hit the easiest shot – mid-court, chest high and I said, ‘that’s your never-miss shot.’ I tried to bring awareness to their hitting percentage in those situations. Same with warmup shots – 9/10 ceiling shots good hand, maybe 6/10 off hand. Lastly, I explained that handball is played with both hands, every shot. No dead hands. I expressed that I never wanted to see them hitting overhands with their other hand resting on their thighs.”
JR WPH was thrilled to inspire junior players in Canada. Thank you to Coach Shane and tournament director Guy Martin for an outstanding JR WPH clinic in Calgary.
Thank you to tournament director Guy Martin for hosting the Alberta Open 4-Wall Handball Championships.
Follow all of the brackets from the 2026 Alberta Open 4-Wall Handball Championships HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer