Ice skating figure skating vs hockey?
Figure skates have thicker blades and more flexible boots than hockey skates. Figure skates also have toe picks that are used for jumping, whereas hockey skates don’t. Most rinks offer beginner classes which just teach the basics of how to skate. I would imagine yours is the same, and any kind of skates can be worn to these since there is going to be no need for the toe pick (which is the biggest difference between the skates). Knowing how to skate is the most important and hardest thing to learn, so let your son take the lessons (as long as there are just basic, beginner classes), and have him wear hockey skates so he can get used to them.
