Honestly, it may not be the answer you're looking for, but my advice is don't buy used skates. They will be broken in, but for someone else's feet.
I learned to skate as an adult in a pair of skates that was effectively a size and a half too large for my feet, purely since I did not want to spend a bunch of money on new skates. When I got brand new, good quality skates a little while back, it was like a world of difference. Unfortunately, I also had to unlearn all the bad habits I got into through skating in a pair of skates that did not fit my feet. I still find myself bracing for wobbles that no longer exist when I hop on the ice.
If you're at all serious about rec hockey, spend the money now to get a good pair of skates. They definitely don't have to be top of the line by any means, but taking the time to go to a store where they know what they're doing (i.e. NOT Sport Chek), getting a proper fit and heat molding, is WELL worth the money, just for the headaches you'll save yourself. I know now that I would have been a far better player much more quickly if I had proper equipment from the start. Since I got my new skates, I went from the second or third slowest guy on my team to maybe the third or fourth fastest. Yes, it really made that much of a difference.
Best of luck, and playing more hockey is a great new year's resolution!
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