The streets of Milan were anything but quiet as the US men’s hockey team celebrated their Olympic gold victory on Sunday, causing quite the stir with their lively festivities.

In a thrilling final at the Winter Olympics, Team USA snagged the gold medal by defeating their longtime rivals, Canada, with Jack Hughes securing the win with a stunning overtime goal.

Upon returning to the Olympic village, Hughes was greeted with a hero’s welcome. The US team had been fully immersed in the Olympic experience, while their Canadian counterparts were staying at a luxury hotel in Milan.

Fresh from celebrating with FBI director Kash Patel in the locker room of the Santa Giulia arena, the triumphant team proudly carried their 24-year-old star through Milan’s streets.

A video on Team USA’s Instagram showed Hughes riding high on the shoulders of teammates Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin as they paraded through the athletes’ village, with his brother, Quinn Hughes, walking beside them.

Their fellow team members, all clad in white USA tracksuits and sporting beer goggles, surrounded them, while Charlie McAvoy provided the soundtrack to their celebration, music blaring from a speaker on his shoulder.

Jack Hughes (middle) was carried on the shoulders of Jack Eichel (L) and Noah Hanifin (R)

The US men’s hockey team clinched gold on Sunday thanks to Hughes’s overtime goal 

Connor Hellebuyck, who was the man of the hour alongside Hughes, was also championed with a parade of his own. 

The goaltender was hoisted up by the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady, as the rowdy champions continued to wind their way through the streets. 

Hughes will go down in history as the man who won it but the USA would have lost this game if it had not been for an extraordinary performance by goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who saved 41 of the 42 shots fired at him.

The Americans’ booze-fueled celebrations had started long before they reached the Olympic Village with FBI director Patel even getting in on the action. 

Patel was in stands in Milan on Sunday as Mike Sullivan’s team emerged from the rivalry clash with Canada victorious – just days after the US women’s team won gold in exactly the same fashion.

After the game, Patel paid tribute to the victorious US team and headed into the locker room to join in the celebrations.

A video, shared on social media by outlets including ProPublica and the Washington Post, appears to show Patel drinking and spraying a bottle of beer. He then bangs on  a table and celebrates wildly before a gold medal is draped over his neck.

The FBI director had earlier posted pictures from inside the locker room. He posed alongside Sullivan and a number of players including Jack Hughes. 

The American hero was paraded through the Olympic Village as the team celebrated 

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was hoisted up by the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady 

Hughes, 24, posed with his gold medal alongside his older brother, defenseman Quinn (right)

The photos and videos have sparked fury among many Americans, given the FBI’s claims that this was a business trip. 

Patel – an amateur hockey player and avid fan – flew to Italy earlier this week on a government jet. His journey to Europe, which could cost taxpayers up to $75,000, sparked a backlash – despite the FBI insisting: ‘It is not a personal trip.’ 

His journey to Italy also comes at a time when law enforcement is involved in a number of high-profile cases such as the search for Nancy Guthrie and the death of a gunman shot at Mar-a-Lago.

But Patel later posted on social media: ‘For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.’ 

Donald Trump also joined the celebrations – albeit virtually. The US President phoned Team USA men’s hockey stars to congratulate them on their first Winter Olympics gold medal in nearly half a century.

And after landing a first gold in men’s hockey since 1980, Team USA received a congratulatory call from the President, who even reportedly invited the players to his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

FBI director Kash Patel is pictured inside the locker room alongside Team USA hockey stars

Patel took pictures with a number of players after they secured Olympic glory in Milan

‘He just spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win,’ Sullivan revealed. ‘Obviously this game in a lot of ways was an inspiration to our country.

‘I can’t tell you how many texts I’ve received over the last day or so about watch parties at eight in the morning. I think from a viewership standpoint in the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.’

Trump previously spoke to Team USA ahead of last year’s 4 Nations final against Canada, when they lost to Canada amid heightened tensions between the two nations. 

‘We’re all proud Americans, obviously,’ captain Auston Matthews said on Sunday. ‘This is a huge moment for us. A huge moment for the United States. He called, just congratulated us.’

Matthews hinted that the team could visit the White House to celebrate their Winter Olympics victory. But with a blizzard back home – and the return of the NHL on Wednesday – that could prove tricky.

‘I think there’s a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home. We’ll see what happens,’ Matthews said. 

‘It’s an honor to wear this jersey and to represent the US. To go home with a gold medal. You know how much that means to guys in this room, to people watching and rooting us on too.’