Former NHL referee Paul Stewart wrote all about the day that he stopped talking to Eric Lindros in one of his Huffington Post hockey columns, and his July 2014 piece didn't paint the new Flyers Hall of Famer in the best light.

According to Stewart, he was working a February 1993 game in Philadelphia in which he asked Lindros, then a rookie, how he was doing before the opening faceoff and was told by the 19-year-old, "(Bleep) you. Just drop the (bleeping) puck already."

That's the game that Lindros' first shift ended with a high-sticking penalty for clipping Devils center Bernie Nicholls.

It's also the day that Stewart says that he dropped off a tube filled with posters of Lindros and fellow Flyers star Mark Recchi together to get signed for a charity auction. He wrote that he went to pick up the posters after the game and was told by Flyers equipment manager Jim "Turk" Evers, "Rex signed the posters, but when Eric found out they were for you, he tore every one of them up."

Stewart wrote that he "never spoke to Eric Lindros again."

Insisting the story was made up, Lindros has filed a defamation suit against Stewart and the Huffington Post in an Ontario, Canada court, TSN reported Wednesday. Lindros reportedly is asking for $250,000 in damages,

Referee Paul Stewart signals an interference penalty during a February 1998 game in Montreal. (AP Photo/Ryan Remiorz)

Stewart isn't backing down.

There apparently will be no retraction or apology, and if Lindros wants a court fight, he just might get a good one from Stewart, who besides writing about hockey works as the vice chairman of officiating for Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.

Reached by phone in Moscow on Thursday morning, Stewart told NJ Advance Media, "I have games to go to, other issues to deal with, and in particular cases like this, the truth is always your shield."

Stewart, who knew this lawsuit was a possibility for months, has retained a lawyer to help his fight that he plans on winning.

TSN reported that Lindros is suing because he feels that Stewart damaged his image.

"The statement that Lindros refused to sign posters intended for a charity auction, and more shockingly, tore them up because they were solicited by Stewart is false and makes Lindros out to be unfriendly, hostile, rude, insulting, vindictive, cruel, uncharitable and generally a despicable person," Lindros' attorneys reportedly said in his pleadings.

In an email to TSN, Huffington Post Canada managing editor Kenny Yum wrote, "This is before our lawyers and I can't comment."

Stewart, who earlier this week talked to NJ Advance Media about Flyers left wing Zac Rinaldo, had no further comment on his case.

A source familiar with the case told NJ Advance Media, "Stewart's had a lot of fights in his life where people tried to make him squirm. He won't be intimidated by Lindros' threats."

Lindros, 41, scored 372 goals and 865 points in 760 games during his concussion-shortened 13-season NHL career with the Flyers (1992-2000), New York Rangers (2001-04), Toronto Maple Leafs (2005-06) and Dallas Stars (2006-07).

The six-time All-Star and 1994 Hart Trophy winner was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame last November along with longtime linemate John Leclair. He was back in Philadelphia last week for former teammate Eric Desjardins' Flyers Hall of Fame induction.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.