An East/West rivalry dating back to 1979 will be renewed this weekend when the Minnesota menâÄôs hockey team hosts New Hampshire in non-conference action at Mariucci Arena. âÄúObviously, weâÄôre coming from two different leagues [Western Collegiate Hockey Association and Hockey East] and people have their opinions on what league is the best in the country,âÄù sophomore forward Patrick White said. âÄúThis is one of those times where we can throw one in for the WCHA.âÄù In the first meeting between the two programs in almost five years, the Wildcats will try to pick up just their third-ever win against Minnesota. The seriesâÄô history is severely in the GophersâÄô favor and currently sits at 12-2-1; perhaps the biggest win of all for Minnesota came in 2003 when the Gophers beat New Hampshire 5-1 in the NCAA title game. âÄúIâÄôm sure theyâÄôre very aware of [the record], but theyâÄôre coming into our building,âÄù White said. âÄúJust like every other team in this building, we got to make sure everyone knows when they come into Mariucci, theyâÄôre going to find one of the best teams in the nation.âÄù Minnesota coach Don Lucia is just 2-1-1 against New Hampshire coach Dick Umile , who trails Lucia by 96 career wins but whose .653 winning percentage is six points higher than the Gophers coach. This yearâÄôs teams are nearly as similar as their coaches. Two-time defending Hockey East champion New Hampshire sits with a 4-1-2 overall record and appears to have adjusted to life without 2008 Hobey Baker Award Finalist Kevin Regan between the pipes . With junior goalie Brian Foster standing in, the Wildcats are 3-1 against nationally ranked team including No. 3 Boston College . âÄúTheyâÄôre a fun team to play,âÄù Lucia said. âÄúThey play a lot like us. They can get up and down the rink, theyâÄôre quick and theyâÄôre always one of the best teams in the country not just Hockey East.âÄù Meanwhile, the Gophers sit atop the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and have yet to lose a game and scored six goals for the first time last Saturday since the 2007 WCHA Playoff Series. Lucia said this yearâÄôs team has âÄúexceededâÄù his expectations through six games. With fourth-ranked Minnesota hosting fifth-ranked New Hampshire, this weekendâÄôs series should be a good judge of where both teams stand despite being early in the season. âÄúIt will be a good test for us and them, White said. âÄúPolls arenâÄôt necessarily accurate at the beginning of the year, but at the same time it is a judgment of how youâÄôre playing at this point,âÄù sophomore defenseman Cade Fairchild said . âÄúObviously, weâÄôve been doing something right.âÄù