WOBURN — The celebratory jump into the glass felt a little different for the Reading boys hockey team Wednesday night.

Despite several second-place finishes that came down to the last game the previous few years, the No. 5 Rockets (14-2-2) finally secured their first Middlesex League Liberty title in 12 years with a 3-0 win over No. 14 Winchester at O’Brien Ice Rink.

Arlington’s had Reading’s number in recent memory and was in striking range to steal the title if it couldn’t seal the deal against the Red and Black (10-7-1).

Not this time.

“We have a lot of pride for winning this league,” said senior captain Nate Vitarisi. “We haven’t done it in (12) years, it’s really an accomplishment for us. … Past couple years, we have the tough losses in overtime to lose the Middlesex League, but I think this time, we really stuck it to them and we know there’s one job and one job only.”

It was about a month ago that head coach Mark Doherty noticed a change in the Rockets that’s propelled them to a six-game unbeaten streak since losing to No. 4 Canton in the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament.

Wednesday night had all the components that have driven the streak, too.

JT Coyne locked down a 12-save shutout, Reading’s third straight. A high-energy forecheck and physical defensive presence generated a 48-12 shots on goal advantage, peppering Winchester goalie Mac O’Flynn (45 saves) with at least 10 shots on goal every period. And goals from Cayden Emery, Aidan Shaughnessy and Jack Melly gave Reading a fifth straight game with at least three different goal scorers.

“Something happened the last month, it was like a switch, we just got better,” Doherty said. “In the old days, we were used to (winning league titles). It’s nice to get it back.”

Reading wasted little time getting on the board, needing just 6:32 for Emery to fire a shot from the left point through traffic for a 1-0 lead. Only 50 seconds later, Ethan Filipski’s pass down the ice put Shaughnessy on the breakaway, and he capitalized for a bang-bang 2-0 advantage.

“We’re better if we show up early,” Doherty said.

Doherty credited the improvement of Shaughnessy, Filipski and sophomore Jack Barry from the second line as a major spark that’s complemented a dynamic top line in recent weeks.

“We have multiple lines we think we can play, but the big improvement’s been the second unit’s starting to produce for us,” he said. “The first unit started figuring out about a month ago that they’re pretty good. They want pucks, they’re getting the pucks, they’re getting the net front. Now line two’s starting to get there. … The forecheck’s gotten better and we’re working harder.”

O’Flynn stood on his head in the second period as Reading started to tilt the ice a big after a high-flying first, racking up 15 saves.

But right as the Rockets killed off a penalty late in the frame, Vitarisi found Jack Melly for a second breakaway of the period that he cashed in by crossing up O’Flynn and finishing with the backhand.

“I think we’re a lot better as we use all three lines,” Vitarisi said of the team’s scoring depth. “Everyone’s great on those lines and I think we do a great job scoring all those guys.”

Vitarisi and Gavin Furness especially stood out on defense as chief playmakers on several Winchester rushes into the Rockets’ zone, limiting activity on Coyne. Coyne handled the rest.

“(He’s) been excellent all year,” Doherty said.

Vitarisi emphasized team-work and camaraderie as a major driver toward finally finishing off the league title. Now, this could be the momentum Reading needed to break through for another deep run in the state tournament.