I'm playing for the first time tonight after fracturing my right fibula on 9/5. Mine was pretty clean fracture and did not require pins/plates. Cast and crutches for 3 weeks and then walking cast for 4 weeks. PT 2x's a week for 4 weeks afterward. Started open skating over Thanksgiving. As other's have stated: - Not much exercise you can do while in the cast; wish I spent more time working on stick handling when I was in walking cast - Do the PT!!! Stretching, riding a stationary bike, helped a immensely - Don't rush it; set goals but your body will tell you if you are going too hard or too quickly