How many players are on a hockey team?


An NHL hockey team can max a maximum of 20 players in 1 game. Typically, teams will have 12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies, however, some teams will choose to play 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. Teams will typically have 3 forwards, 2 defensemen and a goalie on the ice at one time. Teams that commit a foul or penalty are penalized by temporarily sending one of their players to a penalty box, thus giving their opponents a man advantage, called a power play.