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Why FBI director Kash Patel celebrated with Team USA hockey after gold medal victory

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Why FBI director Kash Patel celebrated with Team USA hockey after gold medal victory originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Viewers of the United States men's hockey team's gold-medal victory over Canada were greeted by an unusual sight on Sunday.

A contentious figure watched on from the box seats as Jack Hughes' overtime game-winner found the top corner. Kash Patel, the FBI director, watched on as the spectacle unfolded. Patel, a hockey enthusiast, then joined the U.S. team following the conclusion of the game to celebrate their win, and he was seen in the locker room drinking, singing and dancing with members of the Team USA hockey squad.

Videos emerged of Patel bumping shoulders with all sorts of on-ice luminaries, including Dylan Larkin.

Clips of the interactions went viral on social media, leading onlookers to ask a noteworthy question: why was Patel at the game?

Here's what you need to know about Patel's presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics and his background in hockey.

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Why was Kash Patel at the Winter Olympics?

Patel was on the scene during Team USA's win over Canada, having arrived in Milan on Thursday, according to CBS News' Sarah N. Lynch and Daniel Klaidman.

He took a $60 million government jet to do so. The 45-year-old has long been scrutinized for his use of private flights, which is paid for entirely by U.S. taxpayers. Patel has been known to use jets to travel to sporting events and visit his girlfriend, according to The Daily Beast.

Patel's presence at the contest appears largely be influenced by his passion for hockey. He's a known follower of the sport who famously was in attendance when Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record in April 2025.

Nearly one year later, Patel was again in the stands for a memorable hockey affair. He praised Team USA throughout the competition, lauding both the men's and women's side on social media.

In a statement posted to X, FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson said Patel's trip to Italy was planned months in advance. He also claimed Patel would conduct meetings with various officials and law enforcement partners.

Patel's travels have come into sharp focus in recent months, with detractors labeling the pilgrimages as decadent and unneeded. While perched over the action in a box seat, Patel shared news of a fatal shooting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's headquarters in Florida. The FBI, meanwhile, is still investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie.

Has Kash Patel played hockey before?

Patel does play hockey. He embraced the sport as a child, playing it in his hometown of Garden City, New York.

At 45, Patel still gravitates towards the ice. He coached a youth hockey team prior to his ascension to the position of FBI director. He still laces his skates up from time to time, turning out for The Dons, a D.C.-based men's recreational team, according to journalist Pablo Torre.

"[FBI officials] know to leave him alone on Sundays — it's a well-carved out thing," an anonymous teammate told Torre.

Torre reported that Patel suffered a torn biceps while playing in the league. Publicly, though, he chalked up his injury to "kicking the sh-- out of The Deep State."

Kash Patel hockey career

Little is known about Patel's hockey journey save for the fact that he took to the ice as a youngster and he currently plays for the Dons, a D.C.-based men's rec side.

“I’ve been playing hockey ever since I was a kid, and I’m not going to stop playing if confirmed to be the next FBI Director,” Patel told the Washington Examiner in 2024. “I love this sport and decided to give back and had a rewarding experience as a youth hockey coach when I last lived and worked in the D.C. area.”

Patel is a defenseman on the Dons, known for his "grittiness", according to the Washington Examiner. The Dons play 46 games a year, with their contests taking place on Sunday nights. They're one of the D.C. area's finest rec teams, having claimed four league championship in the past 12 years. In 2019, the Dons took home gold at the Lake Placid CAN/AM Challenge Cup, played in the same arena as the one the U.S. downed the Soviet Union in during their 1980 Winter Olympics matchup.

MORE: How USA hockey won first gold medal in 46 years after Miracle on Ice' game

“He’s a team guy. He’ll block a shot, he’ll take a hit,” teammate Tommy Szabo said. “He’ll get in the dirty areas and grind and work really hard. Doesn’t expect a thank you or anything. He just goes out and basically does his job, and he fits in well.”

“The hustle factor is always there,” another teammate, Jordan Shahin, added. “He’s a tough kid, and definitely, he always wants to be out there.”

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