I was and am a goalie - so different breed of cat, as the saying goes. But I did get back on the ice, playing out, sometime around 6 mo post surgery. Problem was, I had played in net for the previous 40 yrs, so it wasn't much fun starting over. I kept active in other athletic activities, mainly cycling, and eventually got back in net at close to 2 yrs post op. Until that time, I really thought I was done with hockey, but I made good progress be/ years 1 and 2 post op. Skating is not a jarring activity, so I think it's a more easily achievable sport to recover than running distances or basketball or similar sports (actually my surgeon mentioned that off the cuff). Yeah, you'll get the occasional bump and fall, but after 6 mo to a yr, that shouldn't matter - wait till you feel ready.
Good luck. Healing takes time - they had to cut and traumatize a lot of muscles, but they heal.
-Dirk