That is why I would make the icons an option that can be toggled on or off. Newer players could keep the icons on until they understand the controls. Experienced players could simply turn them off.
You could still use the joystick if you want to with this proposed setup. The face buttons would just be one of two possible ways to win the puck. Plus this new joystick method would be much easier to use since you'd only have to flick the stick in the direction that you want the puck to go, instead of sweeping it across 135 degrees diagonally like you have to currently. In the current system, I probably miss-aim at least 75% of my backhand passes and 25% of my forehand passes to the slot man in the aggressive formation because of how awkward and imprecise it can feel to drag the joystick down to the diagonal left/right position in the split second that you have to make your move. And it's really hard to perform one timers from face-offs in the current system, since you have to go from left/right, to a diagonal down, to back up again, all in one extremely quick motion. The face buttons would make it much easier to send the pass to the exact person you want to and a ton easier to perform a one-timer whenever you want to.