The only thing I'd say here is to take some time to seriously consider what you want to get out of this surgery. After the stitches are gone and all of the PT and rehab are over, what do you want your life to look like? What do you want to be able to DO? Is it enough to just live pain free with 'normal' activity? Or, do you really want to be able to play hockey? Run a marathon? Climb the Grand Teton? Go skiing? Figure out what you really want, then sit down and talk to your surgeon about what he believes he can deliver. Then, if you don't like what you hear from your current doc, find another one and talk to him/her about what YOU want.
Put differently, if playing hockey is something you REALLY want to do after this surgery (and I can't imagine why you wouldn't...😉) don't blindly accept, "well, I'm not sure we'll be able to get you back on the rink after this..." without getting at least ONE second opinion...preferably from someone that has NO knowledge of your situation and is starting from scratch.
It's your damn back and your damn life, after all.
It's not the same, but my mom has dealt with progressively worsening back issues for years. As I write this, she's about 5 weeks out of her 4th back surgery and is finally standing up straight for the first time in years. Unfortunately for her, she didn't go into her first surgery with a clear idea of what she wanted out of it and wound up with a surgeon that was content to deliver 'good enough for occasional walks around the neighborhood', when my mom wanted 'I'd like to be able to kayak and snowmobile and roughhouse with my grandson.' 7 years, 3 surgeries, and a different doctor that knew how to ask the right questions later, we may finally be getting somewhere.
Finally, best of luck to you. Back surgery can be awful...but it can also be effing life-changing!!!