Fifteen years ago Marty Mjelleli took his first job, delivering issues of the West Seattle Herald onto doorsteps around the Alki neighborhood.

This summer, Mjelleli took a new job, delivering pucks into nets as a professional hockey player.

Mjelleli, who grew up in West Seattle and was a paperboy for the West Seattle Herald from 1993 to 1997, signed a contract to play for the Gwinnett Gladiators in Duluth, Georgia, an affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

"It just hit me recently that I'm a professional hockey player," he said. "I walked into a bank to open up an account and the woman asked me what my profession was and then it really just hit me. It's pro hockey."

Mjelleli found success in hockey since he started skating when he was 3 years old.

He moved to Minnesota when he was 14 and won the 2001 USA High School National Championship for his high school hockey team.

Mjelleli earned a college scholarship to St. Cloud State University in Minnesota by playing junior hockey for the Des Moines Buccaneers.

At St. Cloud, Mjelleli was named Lowe's Senior Class All-American First Team and received the 2008 College Hockey Humanitarian Award.

But it wasn't just in hockey he excelled. Mjelleli graduated Cum Laude with a double major in business-marketing and communication studies.

He was even awarded Paperboy of the Year in 1995, receiving a 14-inch television for his hard work, while delivering for the Herald.

Mjelleli said his experience delivering papers in West Seattle had an enduring impact on his life, helping him in both school and sports.

"Delivering the paper at an early age, one can't help having responsibility and quickly getting a work ethic," he said.

Michael Harthorne may be reached at 783.1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com