They call it an icebreaker because the cold part is usually just the first five minutes.

Awkwardness has a short shelf life. The first few minutes of any new room are genuinely uncomfortable, and almost everybody quits inside that window, which is why so many people believe they are bad at meeting people. They are not bad at it. They are leaving before the part where it gets easy.

Next time you walk into a practice, a shift or a classroom where you know nobody, promise yourself five minutes before you draw any conclusions. Ask two questions in that time and let the other person talk. The cold usually breaks before you do.