Cambridge Native Dies

 

Cambridge mourns the loss of one of its own. Ben Pearson, 20 year old Cambridge native died in hospital in London a week after he played his final game for the Norwich Merchants.

 

 

Last night in Norwich, Pearson's No.7 Sweater was raised to the rafters in honour of him.

 

 

The Norwich Merchant club is also in mourning, Pearson was a much loved player. And Pearson truely loved the small town community sports atmosphere.

 
 

 

He last suited up for the Merchants on September 24th. But Something wasn't quite right. He was having difficulty controlling the puck.


 

"He was sick. He had a cold and he didn't seem to recover from it and it just went from there," assistant coach Jarrett Rose said.

 

 

He was admitted to Cambridge Memorial Hospital, then to Guelph, then to London by ambulance intead of Air Ambulance because they feared the altitude may adversely affect his swollen brain.

 

 
 

The Merchants were nearing the end of their 3-1 win over the Aylmer Spitfires when their coaches got word that Pearson had been taken off life support systems.

 

 
 

Pearson had become one of the team's veteran defencemen and had just started his second season for the Merchants, coming from Cambridge Winterhawks Junior B team at the start of the 2009-2010 season.

 

 

Pearson's death is believed to have been caused by complications from being on a high protein diet. 
 

 

 

 

It appears that he suffered from a condition known as a urea cycle disorder. A healthy body breaks down protein into several components, including nitrogen. Substances in the body called enzymes then convert that nitrogen into urea, a waste product that leaves the body in the urine.
 

 

 

 

But in someone lacking the proper enzymes, nitrogen accumulates in the blood as ammonia, which poisons the brain. Brain damage, coma and death can follow.
 

 

 

 

Urea cycle disorders are incurable. They are thought to occur in about one in 14,000 people and they stem from deficiencies in any of eight enzymes.

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"People go through hockey dropping and trading players all the time.
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"Your one of a kind bro, its gonna b tough not havin' you around any more," ..."Its been a privilege to have known you for so long and you won't soon be forgotten. I can still remember lacin' em up with u in peewee. Me and the rest of the Fish's are gonna miss ya. Luv ya Ben."

 


 

"Was an honour patrolling the blue lines with you. Love yah Benny! & forever missed bud," teammate Todd Kemp added.
 

 

 

"Love you forever benny, always my #7. RIP kid. Nothing can take away the memories though bro!"
 

 

 

"Benny... it was a true honour to wear the red and white with you!!" added last season's team captain Steven Boyd "You touched a lot of people in a lot of different ways... but the times we had together will never go forgotten, you are one of the best team mates I have ever put on a jers with and a even better friend... I know you will watch over the boys up there!! Never forgotten 7, Love you forever brother!!"