Silvertips and Broncos swap Schaefer and Rudolph in Tuesday trade
The Everett Silvertips and Swift Current Broncos are trade partners for the second time this season.
Tuesday’s deal sees the reigning WHL Champions acquire forward Brendan Rudolph from the Broncos in exchange for forward Clarke Schaefer and a fourth-round pick in the 2030 WHL Prospects Draft.
Rudolph, 18, has two goals and one assist for three points in eight matches in 2026-27.
The 6-foot, 192-pound left winger was acquired by Swift Current at the 2026 WHL Trade Deadline as part of the deal that sent Anaheim Ducks prospect Noah Kosick to Seattle.
Originally drafted with the 153rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Rudolph owns 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 125 regular-season games with the Broncos and Thunderbirds.
The Calgarian is not related to his new teammate Hunter Rudolph, who hails from West Fargo, North Dakota.
Schaefer, 19, brings championship pedigree and a gritty edge to his game.
The Spruce Grove, Alta. product was listed by the Silvertips back in 2022 and broke into the league in a full-time capacity in 2024-25.
Rudolph put up eight points (1G-7A) and 65 penalty minutes in his rookie campaign and took a major step forward in his sophomore campaign before being sidelined by a season- ending injury.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound right winger had 10 goals (including two-game winners) and eight assists for 18 points and 85 PIMs in 34 games before an awkward crunch into the boards forced him to undergo shoulder surgery.
Despite being held off the ice, Schaefer was with the Silvertips for the entirety of the team’s run to the 2026 WHL Championship and 2026 Memorial Cup Final.
The trade sees him reunited with former ‘Tips teammate Kayd Ruedig, who currently has three goals and three assists to lead all Broncos defenders in scoring.
Schaefer is also the brother of Nashville Predators winger and 2023 WHL Champion Reid Schaefer.
Swift Current (5-4-0-0) returns from a B.C. Division road trip to host the Saskatoon Blades (4-2-1-0) at the InnovationPlex on Friday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m. ST.
Everett (2-3-1-1) looks to shake off a four-game slide as it battles Spokane (6-1-0-0) at Numerica Veterans Arena on Tuesday, October 13, at 7:05 p.m. PT.
Fans can follow every game for free on the WHL’s YouTube channel.
