Former Canucks prospect arrested, charged with fraud

Surrey RCMP announced on Wednesday that former Vancouver Canucks prospect Prab Rai was arrested on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old was charged with fraud, with the RCMP’s Financial Crimes unit saying a victim alleged they had lost “several million dollars” in real estate investment opportunities. The investigation began back on Jan. 14, 2021, with the timeframe of the alleged crimes happening between October 2015 and July 2018.

Rai was arrested and charged with fraud over $5,000. No other details were released, with the British Columbia native awaiting his next court appearance after being released by the courts.

According to the Vancouver Sun, Rai is also facing a civil suit that was filed against him by realtor Harpreet Singh Khlea. Khlea alleges that he was defrauded of over $2.8 million, with Rai deploying himself as a “successful and wealthy business person” with “important connections with prominent local and international business people and retired hockey players.”

Drafted 131st overall by the Canucks in 2008, Rai never made it past the ECHL level. He spent five seasons in the WHL with Prince George and Seattle, scoring a career-best 69 points in 67 games in 2009-10. He turned pro in 2010 after signing his entry-level contract but never saw time with the big club or their AHL affiliate at the time, the Manitoba Moose. Rai finished his career in 2015 with a back injury after recording nine points in 38 ECHL games, with his closest tie to the Canucks being an appearance at the Young Stars prospect tournament.

After quitting hockey, Rai launched a custom suit and shirt company called Joseph Chanan.