The 2015 calendar flipped to July 1 on Wednesday, a day that likely has most NFL fans looking forward to the red-white-and-blue holiday weekend ahead, with the United States of America's Independence Day landing on Saturday, July 4.
But what about our friendly neighbors to the north? In Canada, July 1 marks the day the nation was officially born, and third-year Seahawks tight end Luke Willson, a LaSalle, Ontario native, relayed a special message to NFL fans across international lines on Wednesday morning.
"I just wanted to wish all fans in NFL Canada a happy Canada Day," Willson said in a video message posted on NFL Canada's official Twitter account (@NFLCanada). "Thank you for your continued support of myself and all the other Canadians playing in the NFL. Go Hawks!"
Willson isn't the only Seahawks player with ties north of the border. Seahawks punter Jon Ryan was born in Regina, Saskatchewan.
As the only NFL team nestled in the upper left corner of the United States, it should come as no surprise to learn there's a serious contingent of Seahawks fans - dubbed '12 North' - who reside in Vancouver, B.C. and its surrounding areas. The group's presence is so strong that the team's '12 Tour' will cross the border later this month (July 9-11) to join Russell Wilson's Passing Academy in Burnaby, B.C. before taking in a B.C. Lions Canadian Football League game at B.C. Place.
