Each team can have six players on the ice during a hockey game (earlier versions of the game had more players). The goalie (goaltender) is almost always one of them, and the five other skaters usually are three forwards and two defensive players, although occasionally a team will choose to field four forwards and only one defenseman. The players can be rotated every few minutes. If a player is sent off because of a penalty, the team must continue with just five players for up to two minutes. No more than two players from one team can be in the penalty box at a time, so at the least there will be eight players on the ice - - the goalie and three other players from each team.