Soldiers gathered at the Kandahar Airfield on a cold, windy evening to say goodbye to the latest Canadian casualty in the Afghanistan conflict, a father of two killed by a roadside bomb a day earlier.

Soldiers salute as pallbearers carry Trooper Brian Richard Good's casket into a Hercules plane in Afghanistan. (CBC)

The Canadian flag snapped in the wind and bagpipes played as troops saluted the casket of Trooper Brian Richard Good on Thursday.

Three soldiers injured in the same attack gripped crutches to stand at attention while pallbearers loaded the flag-draped coffin into a Hercules plane for the long trip home.

The 42-year-old trooper from Ottawa was a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment and stationed at CFB Petawawa in eastern Ontario.

Good's comrades remembered him for his love of his hometown NHL team, the Ottawa Senators.

"He was sure to let me know when Ottawa won, and we were sure to let him know when Ottawa didn't win," said Maj. Brian Healey, acting deputy battlegroup commander.

Colleagues recalled Good's willingness to do anything to help anyone and how he never broke a promise.

Troopers thought his first name should have been "Very," Healey said. "He went out of his way. He never forgot a face."

Even though Good came to the military late in life and was on his first tour, younger soldiers looked to him for advice because of his age, said Healey.

Good leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

He was also mourned at CFB Petawawa.

Colonel Dean Milner, the commander responsible for the brigade, for training troops headed to Afghanistan, and for the soldiers' families, passed on his "deepest condolences" to Good's family, who live in Ottawa.

Milner described Good as a "tremendous soldier" with lots of drive. "[He] would give the shirt off his back for any of the fellow soldiers that he was working with — a real, real team player."

Milner read out a statement from Good's family, who said they were proud of him and described him as "our and Canada's hero."

"Brian was a caring, outgoing and a dedicated family man. Brian died doing what he wanted to do and what he truly believed in," the statement said.

Helped friend readjust

Good was also remembered by his fellow soldiers at the base as a caring friend.

Richard Fagan, a corporal with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, said Good was there for him when he himself returned from Afghanistan in August 2007 and had trouble readjusting to life on the base.

"He was the type of friend that would come over every day and make sure I was okay … and made me go out when I did not feel like doing anything. He didn't let me lose contact with the world."

Fagan said Good was proud to have the chance to serve in Afghanistan, even though he was aware of the dangers.

"He felt like he was going there to do his job and make a difference," Fagan said, adding that it took a lot of courage for someone Good's age to try and keep up with the "kids."

Good's funeral will likely be held next week in Ottawa.

Good is the 107th Canadian soldier killed since the mission began seven years ago, and the first this year. Three other soldiers were injured in the attack, which came on the heels of a deadly December for Canadian troops.

Though the number of combat casualties usually eases during Afghanistan's harsh winter months, December saw the near-record deaths of nine soldiers.

Reconnaissance mission

Good died when an improvised explosive device detonated near the Coyote light-armoured reconnaissance vehicle in which he was travelling.

Three other soldiers, all from the same unit, were injured in the incident Wednesday morning in the Shah Wali Kowt district, about 35 kilometres north of the city of Kandahar, but were reported to be in good condition.

The soldiers worked for the reconnaissance platoon that often went ahead of soldiers during operations, a dangerous task.

Milner, the commander in Petawawa, said the Taliban are also becoming more strategic at planting improvised explosive devices.

"That's one part of the game they've become extremely good at," he said, adding that the Canadian Forces need to get better at finding the explosives.

While violence in Afghanistan is set to worsen in the next year, according to predictions from the head of Canada's military mission there, Defence Minister Peter MacKay has insisted Canada will not be sending any additional troops.

In an interview with CBC News at the end of 2008, MacKay said Canada has already contributed its share of "blood and treasure" to the conflict.

"We have carried a disproportionate share of the weight," MacKay said in Ottawa.

"Canada has done its share."

Fears of insurgency deepening

With a presidential election scheduled for 2009 in Afghanistan, there are fears the insurgency will deepen if Taliban militants seek to disrupt the democratic process.

While MacKay said there could be a need for more forces in Afghanistan, any new soldiers will have to come from other countries.

"Whether it's out on operations with Afghans, or participating in the NATO exercise, Canadians have been in the eye of the storm for some time."

American defence officials have already called for a surge, and the United States is expected to contribute as many as 20,000 new troops once president-elect Barack Obama takes office later this month.

MacKay said he expects there will be calls for other NATO countries to send more troops, too.

Other countries 'could be doing more': MacKay

"There are a relative few countries capable, quite frankly, of doing what Canada does, but there are some who, you know, I have been very clear, as have others, who could be doing more."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has offered his condolences to Good's family and friends, and expressed his wishes for a quick recovery for the three injured soldiers.

Canada has about 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, mostly based in the south around Kandahar. The military mission is slated to end in 2011.

With files from the Canadian Press