There was great excitement and pride in the community as Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced on Saturday that the Canucks had selected right wing Prab Rai in the fifth round, 131st overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Rai, 18, was a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2007-08 season where he recorded 65 points (20-45-65) and 21 penalty minutes in 72 games played. The 6’0”, 191 lbs right wing also played in 11 playoff games with Seattle, registering six points (2-4-6) and four penalty minutes.
Rai, who was born in Surrey, also played for Team Canada in the 2005-06 World under-17 Championships.
Rai’s Career Stats:
Season - Team - League - GP - G - A - PTS - PIM
* 2005-06 - Prince George Cougars - WHL - 38 - 5 - 0 – 5 - 15
* 2006-07 - Prince George Cougars - WHL - 24 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 12
* 2006-07 - Seattle Thunderbirds - WHL - 38 - 5 - 14 – 19 - 18
* 2007-08 - Seattle Thunderbirds - WHL - 72 - 20 - 45 - 65 – 21
Meanwhile, Indo-Canadians were left scratching their heads when the Province newspaper did an excellent article on Rai on Sunday – but followed it up with a negative one in the sports section the very next day!
Sunday’s piece by reporter Stuart Hunter noted how Rai’s dad Bubby, who played with Canada’s field hockey team, won gold at the Pan-Am Games and also played in the 1984 Olympics.
It also mentioned his brother Jas who plays with the SFU Clan hockey team.
The article went on to point out how former Canuck Robin Bawa of Duncan was the first Indo-Canadian to play in the NHL back in 1989. He retired in 199 after playing for Vancouver, Anaheim and San Jose. Ajay Bains of Kamloops is in the AHL while Manny Malhotra of Columbus is still in the NHL.
Then came Monday’s article by sports reporter Jason Botchford that appeared to go out of the way to put Rai down.
But the Canucks’ Gillis stood by Rai and praised him.
(Well, what can you expect from the Province and the Vancouver Sun reporters, eh! One step forward and two steps back when it comes to covering non-white people.)
The Canucks sure deserve the support of the Indo-Canadian community.
- Rattan Mall
Photo by Harry Conrad, courtesy of Vancouver Canucks
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