Chris Snow was buried after a memorial service

A memorial service for Chris Snow was held Thursday afternoon at the Calgary Flames.

The Flames' vice president of data/analytics and assistant general manager died Sept. 30 after a years-long battle with the terminal illness ALS.

“It's a tough day, we never wanted to be here,” Flames general manager Craig Conroy said.

“We were hoping to do it in about 25 years. We used to talk about it.”

Flames legend Lanny MacDonald and longtime Flames captain Jarom Iginla were on hand to pay their respects.

Snow is defined in 2019.

Snow and former Flames general manager Brad Treliving, now of the Toronto Maple Leafs, have worked together on a daily basis for years.

Treliving gave his eulogy at the service, an emotional moment.

“He was a special person, a great hockey player,” Treliving said.

“Friend, loving husband and father and I will miss him.”

Flames captain Mikael Backlund recalled memories with Snow where he would give him advice on his game.

ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects brain cells and the spinal cord and causes loss of muscle control.

On Wednesday, Snow's wife Kelsey and children Cohen and Willa attended the Flags season opener and dropped the puck for the ceremony.

Kelsey remembered her husband of 18 years at the service.

“We've had the most beautiful summer and we're looking forward to seeing our kids when school and sports start,” she said.

“I thought we had plenty of time.”

His daughter, Willa, showed the same fighting spirit that many have seen in honoring her father.

“Now I know it's safe, not too cold, not too hot, but perfect,” he said.

“His battle with ALS is over. All pain is gone.”

Brian Burke, who spent several seasons with the Flames as president of hockey operations, recalled the moment with Snow and son Cohen.

“One time I got mad at his kid Cohen and he destroyed one of my plants,” Burke said.

“I was going to yell at him and Snowy said, 'Don't yell at my baby. She wouldn't let me yell at her child. Just a nice guy.”

“He was my best friend,” son Cohen said.

Snow was 42.