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Calgary Rangers

Lethbridge father and sons part of world’s first team-based arm wrestling league

Jan 29, 2026 | 4:31 PM

A Lethbridge athlete and his two sons are at the forefront of the world’s first team-based arm wrestling league, the Team Arm Wrestling Federation

Calgary Rangers team manager, Len “The Bull” Houghton hopes to lead his sons Dustin and Dillon Houghton to victory, after what officials describe as a successful pre-season showcase in Toronto.

On Mar. 28, 2026, TAWF is set to launch in Western Canada, with the Calgary Rangers taking on the Vancouver Wildcats at the Grand Theatre in Calgary. 

For the first time ever, officials say competitive arm wrestling is now a professional, team-based sport that blends strength, strategy, and nonstop entertainment as it ultimately pits Canada against the United States.

Founded by Jason Costantini and Alex Keary and powered in partnership with Major Armwrestling Championships (MAC), league officials say TAWF transforms the raw intensity of arm wrestling into a lively sport, with teams across North America.

Unlike traditional one-on-one arm wrestling events, officials say TAWF games are high-stakes, broadcast-ready spectacles, complete with fast pacing and strategic drama.

Featuring left and right arm competition across four rounds, the action is said to be driven by an intricate scoring system that rewards pins, flash pins, and strategic bonuses like captain wins and shutouts.

Teams of eight athletes compete across four weight classes in 32 total matches, with TAWF rules allowing more space to fight, faster starts, and more decisive finishes, delivering what league officials describe as a more compelling experience for athletes, fans, and broadcasters.

“Toronto’s October 2025 pre-season showcase, featuring the Toronto Smoke verses the Montreal Saints, dispelled the misconception that arm wrestling is purely a strength sport, highlighting it as a mini martial art filled with strategy, technique, and team camaraderie instead,” says Jason Constantini, Executive Producer and Co-founder, Team Arm Wrestling Federation, in a press release. “Now, it’s time to watch Western Canada’s exceptional talent get in on the action.”

The Calgary Rangers are managed by Canadian Arm Wrestling Hall of Famer, Len Houghton, of Lethbridge, known as “The Bull” who officials say has won five medals at the WAF World Championships (2 GOLD, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze).

The Team Arm Wrestling Federation features eight franchises across Canada and the US, with teams in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Long Island, Las Vegas and Detroit.

The 14-week season officially begins Nov. 7, 2026, culminating in a dramatic US vs. Canada finals.