Theres far too many components to the game to be able to pick it up late. Late being literally any age after 8. You have the hand-eye requirements in order to both handle a puck, receive a pass, and shoot- all while not getting annihilated on the ice. You have major contact at every professional and semi professional level- where if you dont know how to spin off or avoid youll get hurt, badly. Theres the literal act of shooting the puck, where again, you do it wrong then not only is it a muffin that will never beat a quality goalie but can also break wrist bones or result in tendonitis if done wrong for long enough. Then, after you factor all that in, you strap on blades where you live and die from edgework and speed. The game is almost constantly moving at above 20km/h (pro leagues) on edges, with other guys that can skate, and will blow by you if your crossovers while skating backwards (this takes alot of on ice awareness to begin with) arent near immaculate. It doesnt even begin with being a good skater, there is so much more.
Basically, hockey is like a trade. If you expect to become a master, you need 5 thousand hours. To be a leader in the field and an example to look up to, probably 20 thousand hours (nhl'ers). There isnt enough time to master anything if you start late. Maybe you can get to jr.b... maybe, if youre some god-gifted freak of nature. Ive played or been around the game my whole life, and watching 8yr olds who have had blades on since they were 3 skate around me like im a pylon with cement shoes on while in quicksand is quite telling- as most of those kids wont ever come close to the show.